'^.  ^' 


mmimKi 


r-in-l'TPpP 


\ 


.^  /: 


/ 


r 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


THE  following  Difcourfes^  for  fiihjlance^ 
^ere  delivered  in  the  place  where  the  writer 
Jlatedly  minijlers.     What  was  meant  only  for  a 
fingle  congregation^  is^  by  the  defire  of  the  he^-r^ 
ers^  now  made  public.     Whether  the  Book  which 
chrifiians  take  for  their  guide ^  is  from  heaven 
or  ofmen^  is  an  inquiry  of  the  highejl  importance; 
and  in  which  not  afew^  at  the  prefent  time ^  feel 
deeply  interefled  from  oppoftte  motives.      This 
fhort  fumm,ary  of  the  principal  arguments  infup^ 
port  of  revealed  religion^  is  indebted  to  the  de- 
fences which  have  gone  before  it^  and  claims  no 
advance  in  aftibjed  which  has  employed fo  ma- 
ny  abler  pens.     It  is  hoped  that  this  compendious 
view  may  be  ufeful  tofome  who  have  not  hadac- 
cefs  to  the  large  treaitfes^  which  have  been  pub* 
lifhed  on  the  truth  and  infpiration  of  the  Bible. 


^-'^^^'^'^•^^^-^^^^fctAaA^fUi^^ 


:^<>:.>D-0-;xxxx;><:::<:x>::;><.:><;^<>=::>i;x>c>=;::=<x?<:K.::<X 


eiatio7i. 


DISCOURSE    I. 

On  the  Truth  of  the  Scriptures. 


2   TIMOTHY  iii.    \6, 

ALLfcripture  is  given  by  ift/pirafion  of  God ^ 
and  is  profitable  for  do6lrine^for  reproofs  for 
corredion^  for  injiridlion  in  righteoufnefs. 

MINISTERS  of  the  gofpel  are  under 
high  and  peculiar  obligations,  in 
every  age  of  the  church,  to  bear  public  tef- 
timony  in  favor  of  the  truth  and  divine  ori- 
ginal of  the  religion  which  they  are  called  to 
preach.  The  performance  of  this  duty 
A  2 


mufl  Ik  wltb  uncommon  weight  uj^  dieir 

minds  at  the  prefent  time  ;  when  not  a  few 
in  America,  and  vafl  numbers  on  the  eaftern 
continent,  who  were  educated  in  the  behef 
of  chriflianity,  openly  reprobate  it,  as  the 
offspring  of  fraud  or  fuperftition.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  difciples  of  infidelity  are 
multiplying  daily,  and  that  they  are  induf- 
trioufly  employed  in  throwing  doubts  and 
fcruples  relative  to  the  holy  fcriptures,  be- 
fore the  minds  of  thofe  who  have  not,  as 
yet,  gone  over  to  their  fide^  Whoever  has 
his  eyes  open  to  difcern  the  moral  complex- 
ion of  the  day,  and  is  friendly  to  the  pref- 
ent and  future  welfare  of  mankind,  will  feel 
no  fmall  concern  for  the  rifmg  generation 
in  particular.  Their  inexperience,  and  the 
warmth  of  their  palTions  render  them  liable 
to  become  an  eafy  prey  to  thofe  licentious 
opinions,  which  are  highly  pleafmg  to  the 
corrupt  tafte  of  the  human  heart. 

I  REQUEST  of  you,  my  young  friends,  as 
\ve\\  as  of  perfons  of  every  age,  a  candid, 
ferious,  and  patient  hearing,  while  I  adduce 
fome  of  the  leading  evidences  in  fupport  of 
the  truth  and  infpiration  of  the  Bible,  in  a 
more  ample  manner  than  I  have  hitherto 
done  in  my  pubHc  difcourfes.  In  profecu. 
ting  this  defign  fome  things  will  be  intro* 


^. 


dueed,  Avhich  may  not,  feparately  confi<Jer* 
cd,  be  thought  very  interefting  j  but  I  hope 
it  will  appear  in  the  final  refult,  that  they 
are  necelTary.  parts  of  the  general  fubjed 
on  which  I  am  entering. 

If  the  bible  be  a  piece  of  prieftcraft,  or 
the  work  of  difhoneft  politicians,  let  it  be 
given  up,  and  fmk  into  contempt :  But  if  it 
be  from  heaven,  as  we  have  the  fulleft  evi-r 
dence  to  believe,  let  it  be  received  with  all 
the  reverence  due  to  the  word  of  the 
LORD.  Not  all  the  art  or  fophiflry  of  men 
will  be  able  to  overthrow  a  book  that  was 
didated  by  infinite  truth  :  And.  the  guilt  of 
thofe  who  make  the  attempt  will  be  awfully 
great  ;  for  they  will  be  found  even  to  fight 
againft  God ! 

Those  perfons  in  chriftian  countries  who 
acknowledge  the  exiftence  of  one  God,  but 
deny  all  revealed  religion,  have  adopted  the 
name  of  Dei/is,  They  are  far  from  being 
agreed  among  themfelves,  except  in  the  fm- 
gle  point  of  denying  the  divine  original  of 
the  fcriptures.  A  confiderable  number  of 
deifts  in  the  lafl  and  prefent  century,  have 
appeared  as  writers  againft  the  truth  and  in- 
fpiration  of  the  bible.  Some  of  them  were 
men  of  acutenefs  and  learning ;  fuch  as 
Lord  Herbert,  the  Earl  gf  Shaftlbury,  Lord 


8 


Bolingbroke,  Chubb,  Hume,  Voltaire,  Rof- 
feau,  and  others.  Our  country  has  not  giv- 
en birth  to  any  deiflical  writer  of  much  note. 
Mr,  Thomas  Paine,  whofe  zeal  for  infidelity 
is  well  known,  was  born  and  educated  in 
England.  On  his  leaving  the  United  States 
of  America,  a  few  years  fmce,  he  repaired  to 
France,  w^here  he  foon  found  the  leaders  of 
a  large  and  powerful  nation,  as  warmly  en- 
gaged as  himfelf  for  the  downfal  of  the 
chriflian  religion,  and  the  propagation  of  in- 
fidehty  through  the  world.  Thofe 'perfons 
who  have  read  Mr.  Paine's  *'  Age  of  Rea- 
fon,"  the  firft  and  fecond  parts,  have  no 
caufe  to  doubt  that  he  has  fpoken  the  lan- 
guage of  his  heart ;  for  he  has  gone  fo  far 
as  to  utter  an  oath  in  a  formal  manner  that 
lie  is  a  deifl.  On  his  darhng  theme  he  has 
flarted  little  or  nothing  new,  nor  has  he  hand- 
led the  fubje^lfo  ably  as  feveral  who  went  be- 
fore him  ;  but  in  impudence  and  ridicule  he 
has  few  equals.  It  is  much  eafier  to  deal  in 
confident  affertionsjor  toraife  a  laugh  among 
the  thoughtlefs,  than  to  offer  rational  con- 
vidion  to  the  mind. 

It  cannot  be  queflioned  that  many  are 
fond  of  calling  themfelves  deifts  or  infidels, 
becaufe  they  have  heard  that  fome  great  men 
have  done  fo  heretofore,  or  are  doing  fo  at 


the  prefent  tiAie ;  though  they  have  never 
read  z  fyllable  that  they  wrote,  and  are 
wholly  ignorant  of  the  arguments  which 
they  employ  in  fupport  of  their  caufe.  Con- 
verfions  to  infidelity  are  eafily  made  among 
thofe  who  are  void  of  principle,  or  are  galled 
by  fcripture  reproofs,  or  are  determined  to 
indulge  their  lufts.  Hence  it  need  not  ap- 
pear ftrange,  that  in  a  feafon  of  general  li- 
centioufnefs,  many  openly  renounce  the 
pure  reHgion  that  came  from  above. 

A  LOOSE  way  of  thinking  on  moral  and 
religious  fubjecls  has  a  flrong  tendency  to 
blind  the  mind,  and  harden  the  heart.  In 
the  hiftory  of  the  New  Tc (lament  frequent 
mention  is  made  of  the  Sadaucees^  a  fe6l 
who  denied  a  future  flate,  the  refurredion 
of  the  body,  and  the  exiflence  of  angel  or 
fpirit.  They  were  among  the  moll  bitter 
enemies  of  Chrifl  and  his  apoflles.  I  find 
no  fatisfa6lory  proof  of  the  converfion  of 
one  of  them  to  chriflianity.  When  any 
have  deliberately  become  unbelievers  in  the 
truth  and  divinity  of  the  fcriptures,they  have 
feldom  been  reclaimed.  In  moft  inftances 
they  have  proceeded  from  bad  to  worfe,  un- 
til according  to  human  appearance,  they 
have  cut  themfelves  off  from  hope.  God, 
who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hand. 


1(5 


is  able  to  arreft  infidels  of  the  highefl:  clafs 
ill  their  courfe,  and  fubdue  them  by  his 
grace  ;  but  we  need  flronger  evidence  than 
has  yet  appeared,  to  be  fanguine  in  our  ex- 
pectations that  any  of  them  will  be  recover- 
ed from  the  error  of  their  way.  There  is 
room  to  hope  that  fuch  as  are  infidels  through 
inattention  may  be  excited  to  careful  inqui- 
ry, and  efcape  from  the  fnare  in  which  they 
have  begun  to  be  entangled  ;  and  that  thofe 
whofe  faith  is  wavering  may  be  fettled  in  the 
belief  that  the  bible  is  true  and  from  God. 
Thofe  who  have  an  anxious  defire  to  be  fat- 
isfied  on  fo  important  a  fubje£t,  will  liflen 
with  avidity  to  every  attempt  to  difcover  the 
grounds  on  which  the  fcriptures  may  be 
defended,  againft  thofe  who  condemn  theiu 
as  fraught  with  cunningly  devifed  fables. 

Pious  chriftians  are  fully  fatisfied  that 
the  religion  which  they  have  embraced  is 
of  divine  original ;  but  the  holy  exercifes 
of  their  hearts  are  not  to  be  held  up  before 
infidels  for  their  convidion.  The  latter 
will  fay,  (and  they  will  declare*a  fa6l  not 
to  be  doubted)  that  they  know  nothing  a- 
bout  the  feelings  of  chriflian  piety.  Hence 
it  may  be  expecled  that  they  will  confider  all 
who  profefs  fuch  feelings  as  enthufiafts,  and 
unworthy  of  notice.      Recourfe  mufl  be 


I 


i 


tr 


had  te  argument  ;  both  to  eflabllfli  the  re* 
ligion  in  difpute,  and  to  remove  objedions. 
The  faithful  witnefles,  though  it  has  been 
their  lot  to  prophefy  a  long  time  clothed  in 
fackcloth,  will  not  withhold  their  teflimony 
in  favor  of  the  oracles  of  God.  Being  not 
afhamed  of  their  hope  they  will  labor  to 
produce  fuch  reafons  for  its  fupport,  as  may 
filence,  if  they  do  not  convince,  gainfayers. 
The  glory  of  God,  and  the  felicity  of  his 
holy  intelligent  kingdom,  are  diredly  pro- 
moted by  the  exhibition  of  truth,  however 
it  may  "  torment  them  that  dwell  on  the 
earth."  The  friendsof  revelation  feel  them- 
felves  bound  to  ftand  up  in  its  defence  :  The 
effeds  of  their  exertions  they  leave  with 
God. 

The  words  of  the  Apoflle  Paul  in  the 
text,  addrefled  to  Timothy,  a  young  minif- 
ter,  may  lead  us  to  attend  to  the  argumewts 
by  which  the  fcriptures  are  demonili  ated  to 
be  true  and  from  God.  It  is  added  in  the 
verfe  next  following,  That  the  man  of  God 
viaybe  perfeB^  thoroughly  furnijhed  unto  all 
pod  works  :  The  meaning  ofwliich  is,  that 
Timothy  by  attending  to  the  evidences  and 
defign  of  all  fcripture,  would  be  completely 
furniihed,  as  a  chriftian  and  a  minifler,  for 
the  olfcharge  of  every  duty  to  which  he 
ihould  be  called. 


12 


When  the  apoftle  declares  that  allfcnp* 
lure  is  given  by  infpiration  of  God,  he  has  par- 
ticular reference  to  the  writings  of  the  Old 
Teftamentb  Thefe  were  the  fcriptures 
which  Timothy  had  known  from  a  child,  as 
is  mentioned  in*  the  verfe  preceding  the 
text.  At  the  time  when  Paul  wrote  this  e* 
piftle  the  whole  of  the  new  teftament  had 
not  been  committed  to  writing  :  But  fucli. 
is  the  connexion  between  its  feveral  books, 
r.nd  of  the  whole  with  the  Jewifli  fcriptures, 
that  the  two  teflaments  muft  fland  or  fall 
together.  Whatever  diftind  proofs  are 
given  of  the  truth  and  infpiration  of  the 
new  teftament,  and  however  convincing 
thefe  maybe  to  a  total  ftr  anger  to  the  old 
teftament,  it  is  well  known  to  every  one  who 
has  read  the  bible  with  attention,  that  the 
four  evangelifts,  the  ads  of  the  apoftles,  and 
the  epiftles,  abound  with  quotations  from, 
and  allufions  to,  the  writings  of  Mofes  and 
the  prophets,  on  the  aflumption  that  they 
were  di6lated  by  the  Holy  Ghoft.  Hence, 
it  has  always  been  admitted  both  by  chrif- 
tians  and  deifts,>.that  the  two  teftaments  are 
fo  interwoven  that  they  muft  be  jointly  ef- 
tablifhed,  or  given  up,  as  the  word  of  the 
Lord. 

The-  infpiration  of  all  fcripture  is  not  on- 
ly declared  in  the  text,  but  its  ufe  is  pointed 


»3 

out :  //  is  profitable  for  doElrine^for  reproofs 
for  corredion^  for  inJiru6lion  in  righteoufnefs* 
It  is  profitable  for  do&rine^  as  it  dire&s  us 
what  to  believe— -/^r  reproof  as  it  apprifes  us 
of  fin  and  warns  us  againfl  it— ^r  corredion^ 
as  it  recals  us  from  wandering— andyc>r  /«- 
ftrndion  in  righteoufnefs ^  as  it  inculcates  all 
the  duties  of  piety  and  virtue,  with  the  pf  o- 
per  motives  to  obferve  them. 

In  difcourfmg  from  the  text,  at  this  time, 
it  is  propofed, 

I.  To  confider  the  truth  of  the  fcriptures 
of  the  Old  and  New  Teflament. 

II.  Explain  in  what  fenfe  the  phrafe, 
Infpiration  ofGod^  is  to  be  underflood  when 
applied  to  all fcripture. 

III.  Bring  arguments  to  prove  that  all 
fcripture  is  given  by  infpiration  of  God. 

Under  each  head  it  is  defigned  to  notice 
feveral  objedions,  as  we  pafs    along  in  the 
\  difcourfes, 

r 

'  '    I.  Let  us  confider  the  truth  of  the  fcriph. 
tures  of  the  Old  and  New  Teltament. 

Every  one  will  eafily  difcern  the  propri- 
ety of  confidering  the  truth  of  the  fcriptures, 
B 


or  the  authenticity  of  thefe  writings,  m  the, 
firft  place  :  fince  if  they  could  be  fhown  to 
be  a  forgery,  their  infpiration  mufl  be  given 
up  ;  for  God  will  not  bear  witnefs  in  fup* 
port  of  a  fallhood.  Befides,  we  mufl  be  fa-i 
tisfied  that  the  fcriptures  are  true,  or  contain, 
an  authentic  narration  of  fadts,  before  we 
can  be  warranted  to  produce  arguments 
from  their  hiflory  to  eflablifh  their  infpir- 
ation. 

In  the  part  of  the  fubje£t  before  us,  we 
are  to  confider  the  apparent  candor  and  in- 
tegrity of  the  men  who  are  faid  to  have  pen- 
ned the  Bible  ;  the  circumflances  attending 
the  fads  they  narrate  ;  the  correfponding 
ftate  of  the  world  ;  and  the  harmony  of  the 
feveral  writers  of  the  fcriptures,  though  liv- 
ing in  places  and  periods  remote  from  each 
other.  To  thefe  may  be  -added,  the  tefti- 
mony  of  profane  writers,  or  thofe  who  have 
no  claim  to  infpiration. 

When  we  undertake  to  examine  the 
truth  of  the  Pentateuch^  or  the  five  firfl  books 
of  the  Bible,  faid  to  be  written  by  Mofes^ 
we  have  not  the  advantage  of  appeal- 
ing to  any  cotemporary  writer.  That  there 
was  fuch  a  man  as  Moles,  a  leader  in  Ifrael, 
has,  I  think,  never  been  called  in  queflion 
by  any  deift  j  and  may  therefore  be  taken 


'5 

for  granted.  He  died  about  fourteen  bun. 
dred  and  fifty  years  before  the  birth  of  Chrift. 
There  is  no  profane  writer,  whofe  works 
have  come  down  to  us,  that  hved  until  more 
than  five  hundred  years  after  that  period, 
or  about  the  time  that  Jehofhaphat  reigned 
in  Judah.  Herodotus  of  Greece,  is  the 
oldefl:  hiftorian,  whofe  writings  have  efcaped 
the  ruins  of  time.  He  did  not  flouridi  till 
more  than  a  thoufand  years  after  the  death 
of  Mofes.  That  father  of  profane  hiftory 
did  Q.ot  live  until  after  the  return  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  from  Babylon.  There  are 
no  writings  now  extant  fo  ancient  as  the  five 
books  of  Mofes,  unlefs  the  book  of  Job  be 
an  exception.  This  is  conceded  by  many 
of  the  learned  among  the  deifts. 

Heathen  poets  and  hiflorians  have  re- 
corded events  which  reach  as  far  back  as  the 
creation.  Though  they  have  written  in  a 
fabulous  drain  ;  it  is  evident  that  they  allude 
to  fa£ts  which  were  originally  taken  from 
the  hiflory  of  Mofes.  Thofe  writers  fpeak 
of  the  happy  (late  of  man  when  he  was  firfl 
created  ;  they  reprefent  that  he  was  placed 
•in  a  delightful  garden,  and  enjoyed  all  the 
bleffmgs  of  what  they  call  the  golden  age. 
We  alfo  find  in  thofe  authors  an  account  of 
the  iron  age,  or  the  unhappy  ftate  of  man 


le 


after  he  had  loft  his  primeval  innocence. 
Strabo,  the  Greek  geographer,  who  lived  in 
an  early  period  of  the  chriftian  era,  informs 
that  Alexander  the  Great,  who  died  a  little 
more  than  three  hundred  years  before  Chrift, 
fent  a  perfon  to  enquire  into  .the  manners 
and  doctrine  of  the  Bramins,  or  the  Hindoo 
priefts  in  India.  The  meffenger  found  one 
of  that  order  named  Calanus,  who  taught 
him,  "  That  in  the  origin  of  nature  plenty 
reigned  through  all  the  world.  Milk,  and 
wine,  and  honey,  and  oil  flowed  from  foun- 
tains :  but  men  having  abufed  this  felicity, 
God  deprived  them  of  it,  and  condemned 
them  to  labor  for  the  fuflenance  of  their 
lives.'*  Similar  reprefentations  of  man's 
primitive  innocence  and  happinefs,  of  his 
fall,  ^nd  the  bitter  fruits  of  it,  have  been 
found  in  the  writings  of  many  of  the  orien- 
tal nations,  and  in  thofe  of  the  Grecian  phi. 
lofophers,  who  borrowed  their  theology  from 
the  eaft.  Thefe  accounts  were  evidently 
handed  down  by  tradition  from  fome  of  the 
firft  chapters  in  Genefis. 

HisTORYand  tradition  agree  withthefcrip- 
tures  in  afcribing  to  mankind  the  fame  pa- 
rents,or  in  deriving  themfrom  one  pair.  The 
differences  in  colour  have  created  objedions 
in  fome  minds  againft  the  Mofaic  account  of 


^7 

the  propagation  of  the  human  race.    This 
difficulty  is,  no  doubt,  the  greateft  that  phi^ 
lofqphy  can  urge.     It  is  certain  that  chmate 
has  fome  influence  upon  the  colour  of  the 
ikin.     It  is  a  general  fadt  that  the  nations 
who  live  within   the  torrid  zone  are  of  a 
darker  complexion  than  the  inhabitants  of 
the  northern  temperate  zone.     The  whites 
grow  darker  in  the  courfe  of  a  few  genera- 
tions by  removing  into  hot  climates.     It  is 
well  known  that  the   Jews,  from  their  at- 
tachment to  their  religion,  do  not  blend  with 
other  nations.     Experience  has  determined 
that  thofe  of  them  who  inhabit  near  the  e- 
quator  for  an  age  or  two,  are  of  a  darker 
hue  than  their  brethren  who  inhabit  celder 
regions   for  an   equal  length   of  time.     It 
will  not  follow  from  the  influence   of  cli- 
mate that  men  will  be  exactly  of  the  fame 
complexion  who  have,  during  any  given  pe- 
riod, refided  within  the  fame  parrallels  of 
latitude;  for  the  flate  of  the  atmofphere 
may  be  materially  affeded  by  high  moun- 
tains in  fome  places,  the  foil,  and  other  cau- 
fes.     The  Africans  on  the  flave  coaff ,  which 
Hes  within  the  torrid  zone,  are  not  equally 
black.     Thofe  who  are  born  and  brought 
up  near  barren  fands,  are  blacker  than  thofe 
who  have  been  found  in  fertile  places.     The 
heat  of  the  fun  U  much  more  intenfe  on  the 
B  2 


iS 


former  foil  than  on  the  latter.  The  manner 
of  living  has  alfo  an  effedt  on  the  complex- 
ion. Tribes  who  dwell  in  dirty,  fraoky 
cabins,  or  huts,  are  clad  with  the  undreiTed 
(kins  of  beads,  and  feed  on  filthy  food,  are 
more  fwarthy  than  thofe  nations  who  dwell 
in  convenient  houfes,  and  pradife  cleanli- 
nefs  in  their  lodging,  apparel,  and  diet. 
Hence,  we  may  probably  conclude  why  the 
American  Indians  have  a  darker  Ikin  than 
the  defcendants  from  the  Englifh  in  the  fame 
temperate  climate  ;  and  why  the  Tartars, 
and  others,  that  live  at  the  diftance  of  a  few 
degrees  from  the  north  pole,  are  more  taw- 
ny than  the  civilized  nations  that  lie  further 
to  the  fouth. 

Whether  a  fatisfadory  folution  of  the 
difficulty  to  which  we  have  been  attending 
has  been  hit  upon  or  not,  there  are  fo  many 
particulars  in  which  the  different  nations 
agree,  as  to  faflen  the  charge  of  abfurdity 
on  thofe  who  deny  them  to  be  of  one  race, 
from  the  differences  in  the  colour  of  their 
ikin.  Befide  likenefs  of  figure  and  organs, 
it  has  been  found  that  men  who  are  dilTimi* 
lar  in  complexion  are  alike  in  the  pafTions 
and  appetites  both  of  body  and  mind  j  and 
that  by  long  cohabitation  and  fimilar  culture 
the  differences  between  them  are  not  greater 


19 

than  among  thofe  who  afe  confefledly  of 
one  flock.  The  fimilarity  between  the  difi 
ferent  nations  and  tribes  of  men,  is  much 
greater  than  can  be  difcerned  between  any 
two  fpecies  of  animals  that  fall  under  our 
notice.  By  fadls  which  have  been  long  ac- 
cumulating, from  the  reports  of  thofe  who 
have  moft  extenfively  traverfed  this  globe 
whether  by  fea  or  land,  the  evidence  tha1> 
mankind  are  all  of  one  race  has  become 
decifive. 

All  nations,  that  have  any  records  re- 
maining, agree  in  tracing  back  the  original 
refidence  of  their  anceflors  at  or  near  that 
part  of  Afia  where  fcripture  hiftory  places 
them  before  their  difperfion.  We  can  find 
no  account  of  the  origin  of  nations  which 
will  bear  examination  but  that  recorded  in 
Gen.  X.  which  concludes  with  the  following 
words,  Thefe  are  the  families  of  the  fons  of 
Noah^  after  their  generations^  in  their  nations  : 
and  by  thefe  were  the  natio?is  divided  in  the 
earth  after  the  flood. 

The  antiquity  which  the  Chinefe  give  to 
their  empire,  and  to  the  creation,  has  long 
been  exploded  by  the  learned,  as  fabulous. 
The  authentic  annals  of  nations,  and  the 
ftate  of  the  arts  and  fciences,  belt  agree  with  * 
the  Mofaic  chronology. 


ac 


The  memory  of  the  flood,  which  hap»i 
pened  in  the  days  of  Noah,  is  preferved  in 
the  writings  and  traditions  of  all  the  oriental 
nations.  Marks  of  the  deluge  are  plainly 
difcernible  in  many  places.  The  produc- 
tions of  the  ocean  have  been  difcovered  in 
the  center  of  continents,  at  a  great  diflance 
from  the  fea ;  lodged  in  high  mountains, 
*nd  in  mines  and  quarries  that  lie  deep  in 
the  bowels  of  the  earth.  The  face  of  the 
globe  we  inhabit  appears  to  have  been  rent 
and  torn  by  fome  violent  convulfion.  The 
more  the  furface  and  the  interior  parts  of 
the  earth  have  been  explored,  the  higher  is 
the  evidence  that  it  was  once  overflown  by 
the  waters  of  the  deluge. 

The  difcoveries  of  circumnavigators, 
have  removed  the  difliculties  of  admitting 
that  the  earth  was  peopled  in  all  parts  from 
the  plain  in  the  land  of  Shinar,  a  little  to  the 
weft  of  the  Euphrates;  on  the  banks  of  which 
river  the  terreftrial  paradife  ftood.  The  art 
of  navigation  was  imperfedly  underftood  in 
the  days  of  Mofes,  and  long  after.  It  never 
rofe  to  high  perfedion  until  the  pdlar  vir- 
tue of  the  loadftone  was  known.  By  dif- 
covering  that  the  magnet  would  point  the 
needle  in  the  mariner's  compafs  to  ihc  north 
^nd  fouth  poles,  with  fmall  variations,  the 


SI 


>w2Ly  was  prepared  to  venture  far  from  the 
fight  of  land,  and  to  go  on  diftant  voyages. 
This  difcovery  was  not  made  till  more  than 
thirteen  hundred  years  after  Chrift.  Pre- 
vioufly  to  that  period  veflels  might  be  caught 
by  florms,  or  the  trade  winds,  and  have 
been  driven  to  remote  iflands,  or  to  this 
continent.  As  the  mariners  had  not  the 
means  of  returning  they  mud  have  remain- 
ed in  the  places  to  which  they  were  wafted. 
Shut  out  as  they  were  from  commerce,  and 
being  few  in  number,  they  would  revert  to 
the  rude  flate  in  which  they  have  been 
found.  The  peopling  of  this  weftern  con- 
tinent, the  rnoft  difficult  to  account  for  of 
any  part  of  the  globe,  might  have  been  ef- 
fected not  only  by  the  caufes  jufl  named, 
but  by  emigrations  acrofs  the  narrow  flrait 
that  divides  Afia  and  America.  It  is  now 
known  that  the  north  eaft  part  of  the  for- 
mer, and  the  north  weft  of  the  latter  are  di- 
vided by  a  water  paiTage  of  but  a  few  miles 
in  width  :  and  that  even  favages  are  furnifh- 
«d  with  craft  fufficient  for  tranfportation. 

■  The  boaft  which  fome  infidels  have  made 
of  being  able  to  overthrow  the  bible,  by- 
improvements  in  the  natural  and  civil  hif- 
tory  of  the  world,  and  in  philofophy,  is 
wholly  without  foundation.     Modern  dif- 


13 


coveries  lend  their  aid  in  eftablifhing,  rather 
than  in  overthrowing,  the  Mofaic  hiftory ; 
that  part  of  fcripture  hiftory  which  lies  at 
the  remoteft  diftance  from  us. 

The  extraordinary  fadls  narrated  in  the 
pentateuch,  confidered  in  all  their  circum- 
flances,  are  fuited  to  confirm  its  truth.  In 
this  place  may  be  mentioned  the  plagues  in- 
flidled  upon  the  Egyptians,  the  drying  up  of 
the  v/ater  of  the  red  fea  to  open  a  paifage 
through  its  channel  for  the  Iiraelites,  their 
forty  years  journey  in  the  wildernefs,  the 
manna  rained  down  from  heaven  to  furnifh 
them  with  bread,  the  quails  brought  round 
their  camp  to  afford  them  meat,  and  the  wa- 
ter that  gufhed  out  of  the  rock  to  quench 
their  thirfl.  Thefe  and  limilar  wonders 
were  wrought  to  eflablifli  the  belief — ^That 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  the  Hebrews,  was  the 
one  only  living  and  true  God,  in  oppofition 
to  the  polytheifm,  or  idolatry,  which  reign- 
ed among  all  other  nations  at  that  time. 
Had  the  ilory  of  Mofes  been  falfe,  the  ene- 
mies of  the  Ifraelites  would  have  united  in 
detecting  the  impofture ;  and  they  could 
not  have  failed  offuccefs.  The  known  at^ 
tachment  of  idolaters  to  their  religion,  would 
not  have  fuffered  them  to  be  idle  fpedators 
of  events  of  fuch  importance.     The  fads  af- 


23 

ferted  were  of  a  public  nature,  and  there* 
fore  mufl  have  been  overthrown  had  they 
been  falfe.  Befides,  a  public  appeal  was 
made,  every  year,  to  fome  of  the  mod  re- 
markable of  them,  by  the  feaft  of  the  paiT- 
over,  and  the  feaft  of  tabernacles  :  The 
former  was  defigned  as  a  ftanding  memorial 
of  the  falvation  of  the  Ifraehtes  on  the  night 
in  which  the  firft  born  of  the  Egyptians  were 
(lain  ;  the  latter  was  inftituted  to  preferve 
the  memory  of  the  Ifraelites  dwelling  in  tents 
in  their  journey  through  the  wildernefs. 
Had  Mofes  been  an  impoftor  he  would  not 
have  appointed  annual  feafts  to  keep  events  in 
remembrance,  which  he  knew  never  had  an 
exiftence.  His  acknowledged  fagacity  muft 
have  taught  him,  that  on  every  return  of 
thofe  occafions,  inquiry  would  have  been 
awakened,  which  foon  would  have  proved 
fatal  to  his  fcheme,  had  it  been  built  on 
fraud.  His  conduft  had  no  appearance  like 
to  that  of  impoftors  ;  who  always  attempt  to 
hide  their  defigns  from  the  public  eye,  and 
to  avoid  fcrutiny  as  far  as  poiTible. 

Admitting  human  nature  to  have  been 
the  fame  in  the  days  of  Mofes  as  now,  would 
it  be  poflible  for  a  man  to  frame  fuch  a  ftory 
as  he  delivers  and  obtain  general  belief,  if 
the  whole  were  a  fiftion  ?  would  he  prefume 


«4 

iky,  that  he  went  into  a  powerful  kingdom 
'  led  out  thence  more  than  two  millions 
of  people — ^that  thefeawas  opened  to  make 
a  paflage  for  them  on  their  departure — that 
their  enemies  in  the  purfuit  of  them  were 
drowned  in  the  fame  channel  through  which 
they  pafTed  on  dry  ground — that  the  redee- 
med nation  w^ere  afterwards  led  forty  years 
in  a  wildernefs,  where  they  were  miraculouf- 
ly  fupported  from  Heaven — and  that  in  their 
defencelefs  flate  they  were  protected  from, 
their  enemies,  who  came  upon  them  in  great 
numbers  with  arms  in  their  hands — I  fay, 
would  he  have  uttered  fuch  a  ftory,  in  cafe 
he  knew  the  whole  to  be  a  lie,  with  any  ex- 
pectation of  being  believed?  Mofes  could 
not  have  indulged  any  hope  of  extenfive  or 
lafting  credence,  if  his  whole  marvellous  ac- 
count were  falfe,  unlefs  he  had  been  a  fool 
or  a  madman.  The  ability  he  difcovered 
has  cleared  him  from  the  imputation  of  ei- 
ther of  thefe  characters  from  the  enemies  of 
revelation. 

Groundless  (lories,  it  is  true,  have  pre- 
vailed for  a  time,  but  they  have  always  been 
found  to  lofe  even  their  temporary  credit, 
when  neither  fraud  nor  violence  have  pre- 
vented or  filenced  inquiry.  Fond  as  man- 
idnd  are  of  the  marvellous,  they  will  in  a 


25 

thort  time  correal  their  credulity  in  particu. 
lar  inftances,  if  they  are  laid  under  no  ife- 
flraint  in  examination  ;  efpecially  when  fads 
fo  notorious  as  the  above  are  appealed  to  as 
proof.  Granting,  as  we  muft,  that  the  over- 
throw of  one  delufion  will  not  cure  the  hu- 
man mind  of  a  liabiUty  to  be  deceived  again, 
yet  nothing  is  more  true  than  that  the  multi-- 
tude  will  not  hold  to  any  one  fable  lopg, 
when  the  public  evidence  which  it  claims  for 
its  fupport  is  difcovered  to  be  falfe.  Let  one 
now  rife  up  in  this  country,  or  in  any  other, 
with  the  profelled  defign  of  inculcating  a  new 
creed,  and  appeal  to  fads  in  proof  as  public 
as  were  thofe  recorded  in  the  Mofaic  wri- 
tings, he  would  not  be  believed  long,  if  the 
facts  which  he  affirmed  were  not  real ;  pro- 
vided neither  flratagem  nor  force  were  em- 
ployed to  bhnd  the  eyes  of  the  multitude,  or 
to  keep  up  the  credit  of  the  new  religion, 
That  the  hiitory  of  Mofes  has  been  generally 
believed,  and  that  for  a  long  time,  by  moft 
who  have  been  acquainted  with  it,  is  not  de- 
nied by  its  enemies.  We  would  afk  thefe 
lail:,  on  what  principle  this  faith  can  be  ac- 
counted for,  if  the  narration  on  which  it  rells 
be  a  forgery  ?  If  Mofes  were  either  artful  or 
tyrannical  enough  to  keep  the  Ifraelites  in  the 
dark,  he  could  not  have  enchaiaedthe  minds 
C 


26 


of  the  furrounding  nations.  The  Egyptians 
in  particular,  who  were  at  that  time  the 
moil  acquainted  with  fcienceof  any  nation 
on  the  globe,  would  have  exerted  themfelves 
to  deted  the  impoflure,  had  there  been  the 
ieafl  profpet^  of  fuccefs. 

No  man  or  body  of  men  from  the  earli- 
eft  ages  to  the  prefent  day,  have  taken  it 
upon  them  to  point  out  the  time  or  the  place 
■when  and  where  the  Mofaic  religion  was 
fabricated,  if  it  be  a  forgery.  Why  has 
not  this  bufmefs  been  undertaken  ?  It  has 
not  been  omitted  through  a  want  of  abili- 
ties for  invefligation  in  fome  infidels.  Nor 
have  the  adverfaries  of  the  Bible  withheld 
their  efforts  in  the  prefent  inftance,  through 
■want  of  hatred  of  Mofes ;  for  no  man  has 
been  more  reproached  and  vilified  by  them 
than  he.  It  can  eafily  be  told  when,  where, 
and  by  whom,  the  Mahometan  impoflure 
was  framed.  Why,  I  again  afk,  has  no  one 
unde^aken  to  unravel  the  plot  of  Mofes,  if 
his  fch'eme  be  the  offspring  of  fraud  ?  The ' 
true  anfwer  is,  that  no  man  of  thought  and 
reflection  has  ever  felt  himfelf  equal  to  the 
tafk.  The  fads  of  w^hich  his  hiflory  is  com- 
pofed  are  too  glaring  to  be  denied. 

The  Ifraelites  cannot,  with  the  leafl  co- 
lour of  truth,  be  confidered  as  confpiring 


27  y 

-with  Mofes  to  eftablifli  a  falfe  or  a  ground- 
lefs  ftory.  For  though  their  charaSer,  af- 
ter they  were  brought  under  the  Sinai  co- 
venant, was  not  fo  corrupt  as  th^t  of  oth^r 
nations,  it  was  yet  far  from  being  fauhlefs. 
They  are  reprefented  as  a  murmuring  and 
perverfe  people,  and  very  prone  to  idola- 
try. Within  a  fhort  time  after  the  law  had 
been  dehvered  to  them  from  the  mouth  of 
Jehovah,  with  folemn  and  awful  majefty, 
they,  with  Aaron  at  their  head,  formed  a 
molten  calf,  and  v/orfhipped  it,  faying, 
"  Thefe  be  thy  gods,  O  Ifrael,  which 
brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt.'* 
While  they  were  in  the  wildernefs  they 
manifefled  a  ftrong  inclination  to  return 
to  the  country  where  they  had  been  in 
bondage,  and  contemplated  choofing  a  lead- 
er to  condud  them  back  into  that  land 
of  idols.  Yet  perverfe  as  that  nation  was, 
and  reluctant  as  they  were  to  the  worfhip  of 
the  Lord,  they  have  borne  witnefs  to  the 
truth  of  the  hiftory  given  of  them  by  Mofes, 
and  fubfequent  Old  Teflament  writers.  That 
people  bear  teftimony  to  the  fame  fads  at  the 
prefent  time.  Individuals  and  collective  bo- 
dies of  men  wifh  to  have  their  names  handed 
down  to  pofterity  with  honor.  They  fhud- 
der  at  the  thought  of  a  difgraceful  memory. 
If  we  admit  that  the  Ifraelites  would  lend 
their  aid  to  a  forgery  to  render  themfelves 


28 


the  objefts  of  reproach  to  their  fucceffprs, 
we  muil  fuppofe  that  a  trait  exiiled  in  their 
characters,  which  diftinguifhed  them  cflfen- 
tially  from  all  the  refl  of  mankind  that  have 
lived  from  the  creation  to  this  day. 

The  writings  of  Mofes  carry  all  the  marks 
of  impartiality.  He  not  only  mentions  the 
faults  of  the  nation,  but  his  own  faults  ;  and 
proceeds  to  tell  the  particular  offence  which 
prevented  him  from  paffing  over  Jordan,  and 
leading  the  tribes  into  the  land  of  promife. 
Do  thefe  things  carry  the  marks  of  a  difhon- 
efl  mind  ?  Do  they  not  extort  from  every 
candid  perfon  a  confeflion  of  the  integrity  of 
Mofes  ? 

An  obje6lion  has  been  brought  forward 
againfl  the  truth  and  authenticity  of  the 
Pentateuch,  from  the  pafTage  recorded  in 
Numbers  xii.  3.  Now  the  man  Mofes  was 
'Dery  meek^  above  all  the  men  which  were  upon 
the  face  -  of  the  earth.  Upon  thefe  words 
Paine  remarks,  in^  his  ufual  flyle  and  fpirit,^ 
"  If  Mofes  faid  this  of  himfelf,  he  w^as  a  vain 
''  and  arrogant  coxcomb,  and  unworthy  of 
"  credit ;  and  if  he  did  not  fay  it,,  the  books 
*'  are  without  authority." 

To  this  objedion  it  may  be  replied, 

I  ft.  That  from  the  account  given  of 
Mofes,  it  appears  that  he  was  a- man  of  re- 


V 


29 

markable  meeknefs.  He  bore  the  infults  of 
the  people  at  large,  and  of  His  brother  Aaron 
and  fifler  Miriam,  with  a  compofure  rarely 
to  be  met  with  even  among  perfons  of  real 
piety.  There  are  certainly  occafions  in 
which  a  man  may  appeal  to  the  inoffenlive- 
nefs  and  purity  of  his  own  character.  The 
reproachful  and  cruel  treatment  which 
Mofes  received  juftifies  a  vindication  of  him- 
felf.  The  credibility  of  other  hiltorians  of 
far  lefs  worth  than  he,  has  not  been  called 
in  queftion  from  the  things  they  have  fpoken 
in  favor  of  themfelves,  when  driven  to  make 
a  defence  againll  the  tongue  of  Hander. 

2nd.  The  text  in  Numb.  xii.  is  inferted 
by  way  of  parenihefis,  and  might  have  been 
added  by  fome  fubfequent  writer  of  the 
Bible.  The  account  given  af  the  death  and 
burial  of  Mofes,  in  the  lad  chapter  of  Deu- 
teronomy, muff  have  been  added  by  fome 
other  perfon.  Samuel  did  not  write  any 
part  of  the  fecond  book  which  bears  his 
name.  It  is  not  fuppofed  that  he  wrot^  the 
whole  of  the  firft.  In  the  xxvth  chapter  of 
the  firflbook  mention  is  made  of  his  death. 
If  this  event  be  not  an  anticipation,  but  is  in- 
troduced in  the  order  or  the  time  in  which  it 
happened,  the  evidence  is  decifive  that  he  aid 
not  write  any  more  of  thofe  books  than  the 
Ca 


3° 

twenty  four  chapters  preceding.  This  does 
nothing  towards  deftroying  or  weakening 
the  truth  and  authenticy  of  thofe  books, 
unlefs  it  were  fomewhere  affirmed  in  the 
Bible,  that  they  both  and  throughout  were 
penned  by  Samuel.  This  is  no  where  faid. 
While  the  canon  of  fcripture  was  unfinifiied, 
the  fucceeding  writers  might  add  to  the  parts 
which  preceded.  The  manner  of  removing 
the  difficulty  urged  from  Numb.  xii.  3,  will  be 
eafily  underftood  by  a  comparifon.  Let  us 
fuppofe  that  in  fome  future  diflant  period,  in 
a  new  edition  of  Dodtor  Ramfay's  Hiftory  of 
the  American  Revolution,  it  lliould  be  added 
in  a  parenthefis,  or  in  a  note,  that  Dr.  Ram- 
fay  was  a  man  of  fcience,  and  of  an  eftimable 
charadler,  v;ould  this  deftroy  or  even  weaken 
the  credibility  of  his  hiftory  ?  The  application 
is  eafy  to  the  cafe  of  Mofes.  Someother  per- 
fon  inferted  the  eulogy  upon  him  :  which  in 
no  way  affefts  the  truth  of  what  the  deceafed 
wrote,  unlefs  it  bean  additional  confirmation* 

I  CONCLUDE  this  difcourfe  with  obferving 
that  the  truth  of  the  Moiaic  hiftory  is  fuppo- 
fed  in  all  the  other  writings  both  of  the  Old 
Teftament  and  the  New.  The  evidence  we 
hope  to  produce  in  favor  of  their  truth  and 
authenticity,  will  corroborate  the  arguments 
that  have  been  brought  in  fupport  of  the 
truth  ol  the  five  firft  books  of  the  Bible. 


X:^<><><X>=::>=:;><>C<><>c;x:::<:><X;:-=:::5<X?<:::<.><^::;>::;>:>:;>^ 


DISCOURSE     II. 

On  the  Truth  of  the  Scriptures. 


2   TIMOTHY  iii.    1 6. 

All  fcrlpture  is  given  by  infpiratlon  of  God^ 
and  is  profitable  for  dodrine^for  reproof  for 
corredion^  for  infiruction  in  righteoufnefs. 

HAVING  in  my  firft  difcourfe,  from 
the  words  jufl  read,  attended  to  the 
evidence  in  fupport  of  the  truth  of  the  Mo- 
faic  writings,  I  now  proceed  to  confider  the 
truth  of  the  other  fcriptures. 

That  the  Ifraelites  once  inhabited  the 
land  of  Canaan  is  as  well  known,  and  as  u- 
niverfally  believed  by  all  forts  of  men,  as 
any  part  of  ancient  hiftory.  Infidels  have 
never  denied  this,  nor  that  the  Ifraelites  were 
put  into  polfefTion  of  that  country  by  con- 
quering  its  former  inhabitants.  On  that 
conqueit  they  have  railed  oae  of  their  xuoft 


32 


f-^rmidable  obje£bions  againfl:  the  infpiration 
of  the  Bible.  This  objediion  I  fhall  confider 
in  another  place.  Tho'  in  confiftency  with 
themfelves,  they  have  rejeded  the  account 
of  the  miracles  which  attended  the  cdnqueft, 
they  have  admitted  the  narration  in  general 
which  is  contained  in  the  book  of  Jofhua, 
as  true. 

After  the  death  of  Jofhua  followed  the 
rule  of  the  Judges  ;  which  was  fucceeded 
by  kingly  government.  Towards  the  de- 
cline of  the  kingdom  of  Judah  the  hiflory 
of  other  nations  becomes  more  authentic^ 
and  corroborates  fcripture  hiflory.  After 
the  Babylonian  captivity  the  hiflory  oPthe 
Jews  is  more  and  more  connected  with  that 
of  the  AfTyrians,  the  Perfians,  the  Grecians, 
and  other  nations.  The  return  of  the  Jews 
from  Babylon  happened  about  five  hundred 
and  thirty-fix  years  before  Chrifl.  The  ac- 
€ount  given  of  it  by  Ezra  and  Nehemiah, 
whofe  books  the  deifts  allow  to  be  genuine, 
confirms  the  truth  of  the  predictions  of  Jer- 
emiah and  other  prophets  to  whom  were 
difclofed  the  captivity  and  return  of  the 
Jews,  before  either  of  thofe  events  took 
place.  Befides,  the  writings  of  Ezra  and 
Nehemiah  refer  to  all  the  hiftorical  books 
which  relate  to  the  children  of  Ifrael^,  from 


53 

the  time  of  Abraham  to  the  days  in  which 
they  lived.  Thus  we  fee  that  the  Old  Tef- 
tament  hiftory  is  eflabliihed  beyond  all  rea* 
fonable  doubt. 

In  whatever  light  infidels  are  difpofed  to 
confider  the  Jewifh  prophets  who  lived  be- 
fore the  Babylonian  captivity,  in  the  time 
of  it,  or  afterwards,  they  cannot  deny  that 
fuch  perfons  exifted,  without  executing  a 
tafk  which  they  have  never  attempted,  and 
that  is  the  overthrow  of  the  whole  hiflory 
of  the  Old  Teftament.  The  prophecies  and 
the  hiftorical  books  are  fo  interwoven  that 
they  muft  fland  or  fall  together. 

The  difficulties  which  arife  from  the  dates 
and  numbers  in  the  Old  Teflament,  are  not 
many  ;  and  the  few  miftakes  -in  thefe  parti- 
culars arc  eafily  accounted  for.  It  would  be 
flrange  if  the  tranfcribers  of  the  bible,  a  book 
much  oftener  copied  than  any  other  in  the 
world,  had  in  no  inftance  erred.  The  Jews, 
as  well  as  all  the  other  ancient  nations,  made 
ufe  of  letters  to  exprefs  numbers.  The  fi- 
gures in  arithmetic,  with  which  we  are  fo  fa- 
miliarly acquainted,  are  not  to  be  found  in 
the  writings  of  antiquity.  They  were  firfl 
introduced  into  Europe  from  Arabia,  about 
a  thoufand  years  after  Chrifl.  Several  of 
the  letters  of  the  Hebrew  Alphabet  are  very 


34 

much  alike  in  fhape.  A  tranfcribcr  might 
eafily  miflake  one  letter  for  another,  where 
the  fimilarity  between  them  is  very  great. 
An  error  of  this  kind  might  make  a  numer- 
ical calculation  very  wide  from  the  truth. 
The  Hebrew  letter  which  fignifies  4,  differs 
very  little  in  its  fhape  from  the  one  which 
figniiies  200  ;  and  the  one  whkh  flands  for 
8,  from  the  one  which  flands  for  400. 
The  errors  in  copies  of  the  fcriptures  that 
are  of  the  numerical  kind,  do  nothing  to- 
wards dellroying  the  truth  of  thefe  wri- 
tings. It  has  never  been  contended  that  the 
tranfcribers  or  printers  of  the  Bible,  were  un- 
der immediate  unerring  fupernatural  influ- 
ence. Chronological  errors,  efpecially  in 
things  of  fmall  confequence,  have  never  been 
confidered  as  fubverfive  of  profane  hiftory. 
There  is  no  juft  caufe  why  any  thing  fhould 
operate  as  a  valid  objection  againfl  the  truth 
of  the  fcriptures,  which  is  conceded  to  have 
no  weight  in  fetting  afide  the  truth  of  any 
other  writing.  It  may  be  fairly  concluded 
from  the  perfections  of  God,  that  he  will  pre- 
ferve  the  elTentials  of  any  book  that  has  a 
juft  claim  to  infpiration.  What  need  we 
more  ? 

Without  dwelling  any  longer  upon  the 
truth  of  the  Old  Teftament,  I  fliall  only  ob- 
ferve,  that  when  it  was  <:lofed  by  the  proph- 


35 

et  Malachi,  about  four  hundred  years  before 
Chrift,  the  Jewilh  church  received  as  au- 
thentic the  fame  books  which  we  have  now 
in  our  Bible  ;  and  admitted  no  other  as  ca« 
nonical. 

As  we  come  down  to  the  New  Teflament, 
we  fall  within  a  more  luminous  period  than 
that  of  .Mofes  and  the  prophets. 

We  are  witneiTes  of  the  exiftence  of  the 
chriflian  religion.  However  much  this  may 
have  been,  or  is  now,  defpifed,  no  writer  has 
undertaken  to  overthrow  the  belief  that  a 
perfon  called  Jesus  Christ,  made  his  ap- 
pearance  inPaledine  near  i8oo  years  ago, 
and  that  he  has  had  followers  in  the  world, 
from  the  time  of  his  entrance  on  his  public 
miniftry  down  to  the  prefent  day.  The  Ro- 
man Empire  had  reached  its  zenith,  and  hu- 
man fcience  had  rifen  to  a  higher  pitch  than 
in  any  former  period  when  Jefus  was  born. 
There  are  now  in  many  hands  the  writings 
of  poets,  orators,  and  hiflorians,  who  flour- 
iflied  a  little  before  and  a  httle  after  his  birth. 
Thefe  authors  are  held  in  high  repute  by  thofe 
who  have  a  talle  for  the  fine  arts  ;  and  the 
reading  of  them  continues  to  form  a  part  of  a 
univerfity  education.  Evidence  can  be  col- 
le61:ed  from  fome  of  thofe  eminent  perform- 
ances, in  fupport  of  the  truth  of  the  chriflian 
fcriptures. 


36 

A  QtJESTsoN  may  arlfe  in  this  place,  ift 
fome  minds,  which  demands  an  anlwer,  and 
that  is,  why  the  teftimony  of  pagans  is  ap- 
pealed to  in  defence  of  the  gofpel  ?  To  this 
it  may  be  anfvvered,  that  their  teftimony,  is 
tjie  teftimony  of  avowed  enemies  ;  which 
according  to  common  fenfe,  and  the  appro- 
ved rules  of  judging,  has  no  fmall  weight. 
The  Heathens  cannot  be  fufpeded  of  attempt- 
ing to  build  up  a  caufe  which  they  have  ever 
fought  to  deftroy  ;  or  of  aiding  in  the  eftab- 
lifhment  of  the  fa£ts  on  which  it  refts,  unlefs 
compelled  to  it  by  the  force  of  evidence. 
Let  it  alfo  be  remembered  here,  that  the  fuf- 
frages  of  pagan  writers  are  not  colle£led  to 
prove  that  the  fcriptures  are  given  by  divine 
infpiration,but  for  the  fmgie  purpofe  of  con- 
firming their  truth. 

That  the  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift  did  ex- 
iil  in  as  early  a  period  as  his  followers  con- 
tend, may  be  fairly  gathered  from  the  wri- 
tings of  Tacitus,  the  Roman  hiftorian,  which 
were  pubHfhed  about  feventy  years  after 
Chrift's  death.  Speaking  of  the  fire  which 
happened  at  Rome  about  thirty  years  after 
the  crucifixion,  and  of  the  fufpicions  that 
the  Emperor  Nero  enkindled  it,  he  proceeds 
as  follows  :  "  But  neither  thefe  exertions, 
"  nor  his  largefles  to  the  people,  nor  his 


37 

*<  offerings  to  the  gods,  did  away  the  infa- 
*'  mous  imputation  under  which  Nero  lay, 
**  of  having  ordered  the  city  to  be  fet  on 
**  fire.  To  put  an  end  therefore  to  this 
*'  report,  he  laid  the  guilt,  and  inflided  the 
*'  mod  cruel  punifhments  upon  a  fet  of  peo- 
**  pie,  who  were  held  in  abhorrence  for 
*'  their  crimes,  and  called  by  the  vulgar, 
*'  Chrijiians.  The  founder  of  that  name 
*'  was  Chrift,  who  fuffered  death  in  the 
^*  reign  of  Tiberius,  under  his  procurator 
*^  Pontius  Pilate.  This  pernicious  fuperfti- 
^'  tion,  thus  checked  for  a  while,  broke  out 
*'  again  ;  and  fpread,  not  only  over  Judea, 
*'  where  the  evil  originated,  but  through 
"  Rome  alfo,  whither  every  thing  bad  upon 
**  earth  finds  its  way,  and  is  pradlifed.  Some 
"  who  confefTed  their  fed:  were  firft  feized, 
"  and  afterwards  by  their  information  a  vaft 
''  multitude  were  apprehended,  who  were 
"  convided,  not  fo  much  of  the  crime  of 
"  burning  Rome,  as  of  hatred  to  mankind, 
*'  Their  fufferings  at  their  exea^|>n  were 
"  aggravated  by  infult  and  moatery,  for 
*'  fome  were  difguifed  in  the  fkins  of  wild 
*^  beads,  and  worried  to  death  by  dogs— 
*'  fome  were  crucified — and  others  were 
*'  wrapped  in  pitched  Ihirts,  and  fet  on  fire 
**  when  the  day  clofed,that  they  might  ferve 
D 


38 


(( 


iC 


C< 


« 


as  lights  to  illuminate  the  night.  Nerd 
lent  his  own  gardens  for  thefe  executions ; 
"  and  exhibited  at  the  fame  time  a  mock 
**  circenfian  entertainment,  being  a  fpeda- 
*'  tor  of  the  whole  in  the  drefs  of  a  chari- 
oteer, fometimes  mingling  with  the  crowd 
on  foot,  and  fometimes  viewing  the  fpec- 
tacles  from  his  car.  This  condud  made 
the  fufferers  pitied  ;  and  tho'  they  were 
criminals,  and  deferved  the  fevereft  pun- 
ifhment,  yet  they  were  confidered  as  fac- 
rificed,  not  fo  much  out  of  a  regard  to 
the  public  good,  as  to  gratify  the  cruelty 
"  of  one  man."* 

That  Tacitus  was  a  bitter  enemy  to  the 
chriflian  religion  no  one  can  doubt  who  has 
attended  to  the  foregoing  paflage.  It  will 
follow  of  courfe  that  this  learned  pagan  ad- 
verfary,  would  have  rejoiced  at  an  opportu- 
nity to  have  proved  it  to  be  a  fable,  had  it 
been  pofTible.  His  tellimony  in  fupport  of 
fome  of  the  principal  fads  on  which  it  refts, 
could  have  been  extorted  by  nothing  but  ir- 
refiflible  evidence.  We  obferve  that  he  tef- 
tifies  that  there  was  fuch  a  perfon  as  Chrift, 
that  he  fuffered  death  in  the  reign  of  Tibe- 
rius, and  under  the  particular  government 

*  Paley^s  view  of  the  Evideaccs  of  Chriitianity,  Boftoi 
Edition,  pages  33.  34. 


39 

of  Pilate.  He  alfo  confirms  the  account 
given  in  the  New  Teflament  of  the  tempo- 
rary check  of  the  prevalence  of  the  gofpel, 
of  the  fpread  of  it  afterwards  in  Judea,  the 
original  or  fir  ft  fpot  where  it  was  propaga- 
ted, and  of  its  extending  its  influence  to 
Rome  ;  where  a  chriftian  church  was  gath- 
ered in  the  fame  age  in  which  Chrift  w^as 
crucified. 

To  the  teftimony  of  Tacitus  might  be 
added  that  of  feveral  other  pagan  writers. 
I  fhall  only  add  that  of  Pliny  the  younger, 
the  Roman  Governor  of  Bythynia  and  Pon- 
tus,  places  remote  from  the  capital.  His 
famous  letter  to  Trajan  the  Emperor,  was 
written  about  the  fame  time  with  the  palfage 
adduced  from  Tacitus  j  but  relates  to  the 
affairs  of  his  own  time.  He  fpcaks  of  the 
chriftian  religion,  as  a  religion  well  known, 
and  as  having  made  very  extenfive  progrefs 
in  the  places  under  his  isnmediate  govern- 
ment. Speaking  of  the  chriftians,  he  fays, 
^'  There  are  many  of  every  age,  and  of  both 
*'  fexes — nor  has  the  contagion  of  this  fu- 
**  perftition  feized  cities  only,  but  fmall^r 
*'  towns  alfo,  and  the  open  country.*'* 

Pliny  in  the  fame  letter  mentions  the 
worfhip  of  the  chriftians,  and  gives  explicit 
♦  Paley's  view,  p.  36. 


40 

teftimony  to  the  purity  of  their  morals.  He 
UTites,  "  That  having  examined  the  chrif- 
"  tians,  fetting  afide  the  fuperftition  of  their 
"  way,  he  could  find  no  fault ;  and  that 
*^  this  was  the  fum  of  their  error,  that  they 
**  were  wont  to  meet  on  a  fixed  day,  before 
**  light,  and  fmg  a  hymn  to  Chrift  as  God, 
*'  and  to  bind  themfelves  by  a  folemn  oath 
"  or  facrament,  not  to  any  wicked  purpofe  ; 
''  but  not  to  (teal,  nor  rob,  nor  commit  a- 
**  dultery,  nor  break  their  faith,  nor  detain 
**  the  pledge.'* 

It  is  natural  to  inquire  what  teftimony 
has  been  given  to  the  appearing  of  Jefus 
Chrifl,  and  the  progrefs  of  his  religion,  by 
the  Jewifh  nation,  from  which  he  defcended 
as  a  man.  According  to  the  Evangelifla 
Chrifl's  perfonal  miniftry  v/as  almoft  wholly 
confined  to  that  people,  and  by  their  influ- 
ence he  was  condemned  to  die.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  the  Jews  ever  fince  the  coming  of 
Jefus  of  Nazareth  into  the  world,  have  ad- 
mitted that  he  was  born  in  the  days  of  Herod 
the  great — that  he  entered  upon  his  public 
miniftry  in  Judea — that  he  did  many  won- 
derful things — that  he  gained  a  number  of 
dlfciples — ^that  by  the  inftigation  of  their 
rulers  he  was  put  to  death — that  according 
to  the  report  of  his  followers  he  was  reftored 


41 

to  life  on  the  third  day  after  his  crucifixion 
—and  that  his  religion  had  an  early  and 
extenfive  fpread.  The  body  of  the  Jewifh 
nation  did  not  reaeive  him  as  the  Meffiah  ; 
for  they  expected,  and  flill  expert,  a  tempo- 
ral prince  under  that  charader.  They  be- 
lieved, in  the  days  in  which  Jefus  appeared, 
that  if  he  were  the  promifed  Shiloh^he  would 
have  brought  them  out  from  under  the  Ro- 
man yoke,  and  have  raifed  their  nation  to 
the  fummit  of  earthly  glory.  The  Saviour 
whom  chriftians  acknowledge,  declared, 
both  by  words  and  actions,  that  his  king- 
dom is  not  of  this  world  ;  and  condemned 
in  a  pointed  manner,  the  reigning  corrup- 
tions in  the  faith  and  pra6:ice  of  the  Jews. 
They  rejected  this  illuflrious  meffenger  of 
the  Lord  of  hods,  they  charged  him  with 
calling  out  devils  by  Beelzebub  the  prince 
of  devils,  and  purfued  him  with  implacable 
malice  and  rancour  until  they  had  brought 
him  to  the  crofs.  We  are  not  therefore  to 
expect  honorable  mention  of  Jefus  Chrifl  or 
of  his  rehgion  by  them.  Some  indeed  of 
the  modern  Jews  acknowledge  that  the  chrii^ 
tian  Meffiah  inculcated  many  good  moral 
precepts,  and  juftly  reproach  many  of  his 
profefTed  followers  with  a  total  want  of  his 
fpirit  J  but  they  confider  him  (till  as  an  im- 
D  2 


4* 

poftor.  On  the  whole,  we  can  collect  as 
much  evidence  from  the  Jewifli  nation  in  fa- 
vor of  the  early  exiftence  of  the  chriflian  re- 
ligion, as  could  under  all  circumflances  be 
cxpeded  ;  allowing  it  to  be  true. 

When  we  recur  to  the  whole  feries  of 
chriflian  writers,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
chriflian  inflitution  down  to  the  prefent  time^ 
we  find  that  they  all  proceed  upon  the  gen- 
eral account,  which  is  contained  in  our 
fcriptures,  and  upon  no  other.  The  ordi- 
nances of  Baptifm  and  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  the  Sabbath,  have  been  kept  up  in  the 
chriflian  church  from  the  time  of  the  Apof- 
tles  to  the  day  in  which  we  live.  The  few 
exceptions  found  among  fmall  and  tempo- 
rary fe6ls  of  chriflians,  do  not  affed  the 
general  argument,  or  the  ufage  of  the  church 
at  large,  Th«  foregoing  rites  confidered  in 
this  connexion,  afford  no  fmali  proof  of  the 
faOs  which  they  recognize ;  fuch  as  the 
death  and  the  refurredion  of  Jefus  Chrifl, 
as  fet  forth  in  the  hiflory  of  the  New  Tefla- 
ment.  We  juflly  confider  the  declaration 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  as  a  great  and  memorable  event. 
Should  the  day  on  which  it  was  declared, 
be  marked  with  peculiar  public  tokens  of 
refpeft  from  generation  to  generation,  will 


43 

»ot  evidence  be  fairly  colleded  hundreds  of 
years  hence,  by  thofe  who  fhall  then  live, 
that  the  political  birth  of  our  republic  hap- 
pened on  the  4th  of  July  1776  ?  The  appli- 
cation to  the  fubje£l  which  this  fuppofition 
is  defigned  to  illuflrate,  is  too  plain  to  be 
mifunderflood. 

In  further  confirmation  of  the  truth  and 
authenticity  of  the  books  of  the  New  Tefta- 
ment,  we  find  the  four  gofpels  written  by 
Matthew,  Mark,  Luke  and  John,  and  the 
ABis  of  the  Apoflles,  are  quoted,  or  plainly 
alluded  to,  by  a  fuccefiion  of  chriftian  wri- 
ters, beginning  with  thofe  who  lived  in  the 
fame  age  with  the  Apoflles,  and  continuing 
through  all  the  fubfequent  periods  to  the 
prefent  time.  By  the  works  of  thofe  wri- 
ters  it  appears  that  the  flory  of  the  birth, 
life,  miniftry,  death  and  refurredion  of 
Chrifl,  and  the  effects  that  foon  followed, 
was  the  fame  from  the  frrfl:  as  now.  Quo- 
tations from  the  early  ages  of  the  chriflian 
church,  have  been  made  from  the  Epiflles 
as  well  as  from  the  hiflorical  books  of  the 
New  Teftament.  Whoever  receives  the 
hiflorical  books  as  authentic  and  genuine, 
cannot  juflly  doubt  concerning  the  Epiflles  j 
for  the  latter  proceed  on  the  fuppofition  of 
the  truth  of  the  former ;  as  muft  appear  to 


44 

every  one  \7ho  attentively  reads  the  New 
Teftament.  Its  hiflorical  books  are  quoted, 
or  plainly  alluded  to,  by  Barnabas,  Clement 
of  Rome,  Hermas,  Ignatius,  and  Polycarp, 
as  we  find  by  their  writings  that  have  come 
down  to  us.  Thofe  fathers,  as  is  generally 
admitted,  were  cotemporary  with  the  Apof- 
tles,  and  were  the  hearers  and  companions 
of  fome  one  or  more  of  the  twelve.  In  the 
fecond  century  from  the  birth  of  Chrift,  we 
colle6l  teflimony  of  the  kind  now  under 
confideration  from  the  writings  of  Juflin 
Martyr,  Irenoeus,  Theopbilus,  Clement  of 
Alexandria,  and  Tertuilian.  In  the  third 
century,  quotations  from,  and  references  to, 
the  New  Teftament,  are  numerous  in  the 
chriflian  writers  of  that  period  :  among 
whom  are  to  be  enumerated  Origen,  Dio- 
nyfms,  and  Cyprian.  As  wc  advance  far 
into  the  fourth  century,  we  find  the  books 
written  by  chriilians  to  be  as  full  of  fcripcure 
pafTages,  as  the  printed  fcrmons  of  modern 
divines  ;  it  is  therefore  unnecefT^ry  to  name 
any  more  chriflian  v/riters  under  this  head. 
If  we  be  fatisfied  by  the  teftimonies  in  fup- 
port  of  the  truth  and  autheniicity  of  the  New 
Teflament,  that  can  be  adduced  from  the 
firfl  three  centuries,  v/e  fnall  find  nothing  to 
perplex  our  belief  in  the  ages  that  have  fol- 
lowed. 


45 

■  The  force  of  the  teftimony  •which  has 
been  brought,  is  greatly  ftrengthened  by 
the  agreement:  of  the  feveral  writers  with 
each  other,  in  their  references  to  the  books 
of  the  New  Teflament.  They  alfo  refer  to 
thofe  books  as  clothed  with  divine  authority, 
and  confider  the  fcriptures  as  the  only  wri- 
tings which  are  given  by  infpiration  of  God, 
If  it  fhould  be  faid  that  the  writers  of  the 
fecond  century  were  kept  from  contradiding 
themfelves,  or  others,  in  quoting  from  the 
New  Teflament,  by  attending  to  the  quota- 
tions made  by  the  writers  of  the  firft  centu- 
ry, and  that  the  writers  of  the  third  century 
obferved  the  fame  precaution  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved.  ift.  That  fuch  an  agreement  in  a 
forgery,  if  the  gofpel  be  falfe,  among  fuch 
numbers,  in  places  fo  remote  from  each 
other,  and  for  three  hundred  years,  is  with- 
out a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  mankind  ;  and 
fmce  no  miraculous  evidence  is  appealed  to 
for  the  proof  of  fuch  an  unprecedented  fadl, 
the  objection  has  no  weight.  2d.  The  chrif- 
tian  writers  of  the  firft  century  lived  in  coun- 
tries remote  from  each  other.  Clement 
flourifhed  at  Rome,  Ignatius  at  Antioch,  and 
Poly  carp  at  Smyrna. 

The  identity  or  famenefs  of  the  chriflian 
fJiOry,  in  every  age  fmce  it  was  firft  promuJU 


4<S- 

gated,  may  be  fairly  concluded  from  "the 
early  collection  of  the  books  of  the  New 
Teflament  into  a  diflindi:  volume,  and  the 
uf'e  that  was  made  of  them.  They  were 
publicly  read  and  expounded  in  the  religious 
aflemblies  of  the  chriflians  who  lived  in  the 
early  ages.  Commentaries  were  written  up- 
on them  ;  and  they  were  tranflated  into  dif- 
ferent  languages.  Attempts  were  alfo  made 
in  the  infancy  of  the  chriftian  church,  to  re- 
concile with  each  other  the  different  accounts 
of  the  four  evangeliils,  as  recorded  in  the 
copy  which  we  have  in  our  hands. 

The  ufe  that  was  made  of  the  New  Tefla- 
ment, in  the  controverfies  that  arofe  early  in 
the  chriftian  church,tendsto  the  confirmation 
of  the  fubjed  we  are  now  confidering.  The 
feveral  parties  appealed  to  the  fame  writings 
for  proof  of  their  refpective  opinions.  Mofl 
even  of  the  heretics  acknowledged  the  whole 
of  the  New  Teftament ;  and  the  few  who 
did  not,  received  the  greater  part  of  it  as 
true,  and  of  divine  original.  It  is  eafy  to 
fee  that  the  different  opinionifts  who  had  a 
refped  for  the  fame  fcriptures,  to  which 
they  had  equal  accefs,  would  ferve  as  a  check 
upon  each  other,  againft  attempting  any  al- 
teration of  thofe  writings,  had  they  been  fo 
difpofed.     We  argue  v/ith  certainty  in  this 


47 

fcafe,  becaufe  we  build  upon  the  known  feel- 
ings of  human  nature.  To  render  the  mat- 
ter plain,  let  us  come  down  to  controverfies 
among  chriftians  with  which  we  are  ac- 
quainted. Should  the  Prefbyterians  attempt 
an  alteration  of  thofe  texts  which  the  Epif- 
copalians  employ  in  fupport  of  their  caufe, 
the  latter  would  not  fail  to  deted:  and  ex- 
pofe  the  fraud.  The  fame  remark  may  be 
made  with  refpect  to  the  vigilance  of  the 
Prefbyterians,  in  cafe  the  Epifcopalians  were 
guilty  of  the  like  fraudulent  conduct.  Were 
the  Pedobaptifts,  or  thofe  who  hold  to  in- 
fant Baptifm,  to  add  to,  or  diminifh  from, 
the  words  in  the  Bible,  on  which  the  con- 
troverfyj^etween  them  and  the  Baptifts  turn, 
the  latter  would  hold  up  the  defigned  de- 
ception to  the  world.  Were  the  Baptifts  to 
alter  the  difputed  paflages,  the  Pedobaptifts 
would  expofe  the  forgery,  or  erafement. 
What  ever  evils  have  flown  from  the  divif- 
ions  in  the  chriftian  church,  we  difcern  that 
good  has  come  out  of  them  in  this  one  re- 
fped  at  leaft — ^The  prefervation  of  the  facred 
volume  from  being  corrupted. 

In  this  connexion  we  may  fee,  that  a  fat- 
isfadlory  anfwer  can  be  given  to  the  follov/- 
ing  inquiry,  which  we  fometimes  hear, 
"  How  fliall  illiterate  people  know  that  the 


45 

*•  prefent  copies  of  the  Bible,  in  the  original 
**  tongues  in  which  they  were  written,  or 
•'  in  the  tranflation  which  they  have  are  juft? 
*'  As  they  have  no  knowledge  of  thofe  an- 
•'  cient  languages,  how  do  they  know  but 
*'  that  they  are  deceived  about  the  text  ?'* 
To  this  it  may  be  replied — ^that  perfons  who 
are  unacquainted  with  the  languages  in 
which  the  fcriptures  were  firll  written,  have 
no  juft  caufe  to  fear  that  any  material  errors 
have  crept  into  the  Hebrew  or  Greek  copies, 
or  into  their  tranflations ;  becaufe  learned 
men  of  various  denominations,  and  who  are, 
fome  of  them,  very  wide  apart  in  fentiment, 
appeal  to  the  fame  fcriptures  in  their  original 
tongues  ;  and  conftantly  ferve  as  fpjes  upon 
each  other  againft  any  alteration  of  moment, 
either  in  the  tranfcribing  or  tranllating  of 
them.  The  prefent  tranflation  of  the  Bible 
into  our  language,  is  acknowledged  by  learn- 
ed men  of  different  denominations,  to  be 
done  v^dth  great  judgment  and  impartiality. 
The  few  who  have  v/ifhed  to  raife  an  outcry 
againfl  it,  have  not  been  highly  refpeded  by 
chriftians  in  general,  for  their  attachment  to 
revealed  religion.  The  prefent  tranflation 
was  iiniflied  almoft  two  hundred  years  ago. 

It  is  indeed  true  that  a  knowledge  of  the 
languages  in  which  the  fcriptures  were  firft 


.  49 

written,  will  be  helpful  in  underftanding 
them;  becaufe  the  tranflators  were  not 
wholly  clear  from  miftakes ;  and  more  ef- 
pecially  becaufe  there  are  idioms  in  every 
language,  or  peculiar  forms  of  fpeech,  that 
cannot  be  completely  exprefled  in  any  other. 
But  the  Bible  is  fo  tranflated,  that  no  one 
will  be  led  into  any  material  error  by  the 
prefent  verfion. 

Returning  from  digrefTion,  I  proceed 
to  obferve  that  the  fame  hiflorical  books  of 
the  New  Teflament,  which  we  have  in  our 
hands,  were  early  attacked  by  the  adverfa- 
ries  of  our  religion ;  as  by  Celfus,  in  the 
fecond  century,  Porphyry,  in  the  third,  and 
Julian  the  apollate,  in  the  fourth.  Thefe 
learned  pagans  do  not  hint  at  any  other 
hiftories  as  received  among  chriftians,  con- 
cerning the  life,  miniftry,  death,  and  refur- 
redion,  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  the  propagation 
of  his  religion,  but  thofe  contained  in  the 
four  Evangelifts,  and  in  the  Acls  of  the  A- 
poftles.  Their  violent  enmity  to  the  chrif- 
tian  religion,  would  have  led  them  to  deftroy 
or  weaken  the  authenticity  of  the  books 
which  its  friends  received,  had  it  been  in 
their  power.  As  they  never  attempted  this, 
but  built  their  objedlions  on  the  fame  books 
E 


5^ 

which  are  contained  in  our  copies,  the  evi- 
dence is  conclufive  that  the  hiftorical  records 
to  which  chriftians  appealed  then,  were  the 
jtoie  which  we  now  have. 

To  the  foregoing  arguments  may  be  ad- 
ded— that  many  formal  catalogues  of  au- 
thentic fcriptures  were  publifhed  within  four 
hundred  years  from  the  birth  of  Chrifl,  by 
his  followers,  which  contain  all  the  books 
both  of  the  Old  and  New  Teflament,  that 
are  received  by  chriftians,  as  canonical  at 
the  prefent  time. 

It  is  well  known  to  all  who  have  gone 
far  into  the  inquiry  concerning  the  truth 
and  authenticity  of  the  New  Teftament,  that 
many  fpurious  or  apocryphal  writings  ap- 
peared in  fome  of  the  early  ages  of  chriftian- 
ity,  under  the  names  of  the  Evangelifts,  A- 
poftles,  and   other  perfons.     Such  fictions 
may  be  accounted  for,  from  the  fondnefs  of 
the  human  mind  to  enlarge  on  a  marvellous 
ftory  that  had  begun  to  engage  general  at- 
tention in  many  places,  and  from  lucrative 
motives.     We  have  certain  proof  that  thofe 
forgeries  were  never  received  by  the  chrif- 
tian  church  as  canonical.     They  did  not  ap- 
pear in  the  firft  century  from  the  birth  of 
Chrift  ;  in  which  all  the  hiftorical  books  of 
the  New  Teftament  were  univerfally  known 


51 

and  received  by  chrillians.  Primitive  chrif- 
tians  never  appear  to  have  had  any  doubt 
concerning  the  truth  and  genuinenefs  of  the 
four  EvangeUfls,  and  the  Ads  of  the  Apof- 
tles,  which  contain  the  principal  facts  on 
which  the  gofpel  reds.  Of  the  apocryphal 
writings  few  have  been  preferved  entire  to 
the  prefent  time.  From  thefe,  as  well  a$ 
from  the  fragments  of  the  reft  to  be  collect- 
ed from  other  writers,  thofe  fpurious  pro- 
ductions, the  moft  of  them,  are  difcovered 
to  be  full  of  trifling,  filly  ftories  and  contra- 
dictions, and  to  be  compofed  in  a  very  dif- 
ferent ftyle  from  the  books  which  chriftians 
receive.  It  is  however  apparent  from  all 
thofe  forgeries,  that  they  allude  to  the  fame 
general  hiftory  of  Chrift  and  his  Apoftleg 
which  is  contained  in  the  New  Teftament. 
None  of  the  apocryphal  writings  were  ever 
admitted  into  the  fame  volume  with  the  ca- 
nonical books,  nor  into  the  catalogues  of 
authentic  fcripture  that  have  been  publifhed. 
They  were  not  noticed  by  the  adverfaries  of 
the  chriftian  religion  in  its  infancy,  nor  were 
they  appealed  to,  as  an  authority,  by  any  of 
the  ancient  chriftian  writers,  in  their  con- 
troverfies  with  each  other.* 


*  The  reader  who  wiflies  to  go  into  a  full  examinatloii 
of  the  truth  and  authenticity  of  the  New  Teftament,  is  re- 
ferred to  the  authorities  which  have  principally  guided  the 


52 

The  differences  in  the  accounts  given  by 
the  Evangelifts  concerning  the  life,  miniflry, 
death  and  refurredlion  of  Jefus  Chrift  create 
no  objedion  to  the  truth  of  their  hiftory. 
Some  circumftances  are  mentioned  by  one 
EvangeHft  which  are  omitted  by  another  ; 
but  on  examination  it  is  found  that  they  are 
all  confident  with  the  general  flory,  and 
with  each  other.  Differences  in  hiftory  are 
not  neceffarily  confidered  as  contradictions. 
Two  or  more  writers  on  the  American  Rev- 
olution, may  mention  different  faCts,  and  yet 
their  narrations  may  be  harm.onious.  The 
genealogies  of  Chrift  given  by  Matthew  and 
Luke  are  different ;  but  they  are  reconciled 
with  truth,  by  confidering  that  Matthew 
gives  the  genealogy  of  Chrift  in  the  line  of 
Jofeph  his  reputed  father,  and  Luke  traces 
it  in  the  line  of  Mary  his  real  mother.  The 
differences  in  the  accounts  given  by  the  E* 
vangelifts  of  the  Refurredion  of  Chrift,  are 
reconcileable  with  each  other. 

The  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  hiftori- 
ans  of  the  New  Teftament  is  greater,  than 
if  they  all  had  mentioned  the  fame  fads  and 


writer  of  thefe  difcourfes,  on  thatfubjefl,  viz.  Jones's  new 
and  full  method  of  fettling  the  canonical  authority  of  the 
Kew  Teftament,  and  Paiey's  view  of  the  Evidences  of 
Chriftianity.  The  authoT  regrets  that  he  has  not  had  ac- 
ctii  to  Lardner's  Credibilitv  of  the  gofpel  hiil:ory.> 


53 

no  other.  In  that  cafe  it  might  have  been 
objecled  with  more  appearance  of  plaufibil- 
ity,  that  they  wrote  in  concert  with  a  defign 
to  make  out  one  ftory,  to  impofe  on  man- 
kind. When  a  number  of  witnefles  teftify 
to  a  complicated  fad,  before  a  court  of  juf- 
tice,  precifely  in  the  fame  words  and  with 
the  fame  circumflances,  a  fufpicion  more 
eafily  arifes  in  the  minds  of  the  Judges,  of 
collufion  and  fraud  in  the  perfons  who  give 
teilimony,  than  when  they  employ  different 
words,  and  bring  up  different  circumflances 
that  are  reconcileable  with  the  general  fa6t, 
and  with  each  other,  and  cafl  light  upon 
the  whole  affair. 

If  any  will  be  fo  abfurd  as  to  difcredit  the 
Evangelifls  becaufe  they  narrate  events  that 
happened  long  ago,  they  muff,  to  be  con- 
fiftent  reje6l  all  ancient  hiftory.  They  muft 
difbelieve  that  there  ever  were  fuch  men  as 
Cyrus,  Alexander  the  great, or  Julius  Cefar ; 
for  if  their  exiflence  be  admitted,  credit  muft 
be  given  to  fome  of  the  records  of  ancient 
times.  We  all  admit  many  things  to  be 
true  of  which  we  have  not  been  eye-witnelf- 
es,  on  human  teflimony.  If  the  witneffes 
be  credible,  we  do  not  withhold  our  affent  to 
what  they  teflify,  becaufe  the  fa^ts  they  af- 
firm happened  at  a  time,  or  iix  a  place,  re- 
E  2 


54 

mote  from  us.  If  we  will  allow  nothing  to 
be  true  that  has  not  been  immediately  ad- 
dreffed  to  our  fenfes,  our  knowledge  will 
be  confined  within  very  narrow  bounds  in- 
deed.— ^We  of  this  audience,  on  that  fuppo- 
fition,  ought  not  to  believe  that  there  are 
fuch  places  as  London,  Paris,  or  Amfter- 
dam  ;  for  we  have  not  beheld  them  with  our 
own  eyes. 

Infidels,  in  fome  of  their  objeclions  a- 
gainfl  the  Bible,  have  fallen  into  modes  of 
reafoning  relative  to  fa6ls,  v/hich  they  would 
be  afhamed  to  adopt  when  applied  to  any 
other  fubjedl.  Hence,  we  have  grounds  to 
fufpe£l  that  they  are  governed  by  a  wifli  to 
prove  the  fcriptures  to  be  falfe,  rather  than 
by  the  candor  which  they  profefs  to  take 
for  their  guide.  They  urge  the  fuper nat- 
ural events  narrated  in  facred  hiftory  as  a 
fufficient  bar  againft  admitting  its  truth. 
Mr.  Hume,  a  deift  of  great  fubtilty,  has  la- 
bored to  prove  that  experience  is  the  only 
guide,  to  be  relied  on,  in  reafoning  concern- 
ing matters  of  fact.  If  he  mean  by  experi- 
ence, what  falls  under  each  man's  particular 
obfervation,he  mull  go  all  the  abfurd  lengths 
of  difcrediting  the  exiftence  of  every  thing 
which  is  not  known  either  by  the  immedi- 
ate teflimony  of  the  external  fenfes,  or  the 


55 

immediate  perceptions  of  the  mind.  If  Mr. 
Hume  aded  upon  his  own  fcheme  in  the 
{en[e  in  which  it  is  now  taken,  he  certainly 
did  not  believe  in  any  part  of  ancient  hiflo- 
ry,  except  in  things  daily  occurring ;  fuch 
as  the  rifmg  and  fetting  of  the  fun,  the  eb- 
bing and  flowing  of  the  tide,  the  change  of 
the  feafons,  &c.  Nor  did  he  exped  that 
the  readers  of  his  hiflory  of  England,  would 
give  credit  to  a  large  part  of  it,  unlefs  gov- 
erned by  the  credulity  which  he  explodes. 
If  by  experience  be  meant  the  ufual  courfe 
of  events,  it  will  follow  that  no  report  which 
relates  to  an  uncommon  event  ought  to  be 
believed.  On  this  hypothefis,  we  have  no 
fufEcient  grounds  to  beHeve  that  King 
Charles  I.  of  England,  was  beheaded  in  the 
year  1649,  ^^  ^^^^  Louis  XVI.  of  France  loft 
his  life  on  the  fcaffold  in  1793.  It  has  not 
been  ufual  for  kings  to  lofe  their  Hves  by 
the  hand  of  the  executioner,  after  the  for- 
malities of  a  law  trial ;  and  as  we  were  not 
prefent  when  either  of  thofe  monarchs  is 
laid  to  have  had  his  head  ftruck  off,  we  are 
juftified  in  rejeding  the  report  as  a  fable. 
Such  abfurd  confequences  as  thefe  will  fol- 
low from  the  principles  laid  down  by  the 
moft  fubtle  deifts,  for  the  purpofe  of  deflroy- 
ing  the  credibiHty  of  miracles.  If  the  ex- 
iftence  of  thefe  is  inadmiffible,  the  Bible 


ii 

muft  be  renounced  as  given  by  divine  infpi- 
ration 

The  portion  of  underftanding  which  is  fo 
equally  diflributed  among  mankind,  is  fully 
competent  to  decide  on  the  evidence  deri- 
ved from  facts  which  take  place  before  their 
eyes.  None  of  the  intricacies  of  abflradt 
reafoning  are  needed  in  fuch  cafes.  This 
remark  agrees  with  the  known  fenfe  of  all 
judicial  bodies  on  the  earth.  To  the  fame 
common  fenfe  I  appeal,  whether  the  Apof- 
tles  and  other  witnefTes  of  the  fads  recorded 
in  the  hiflory  of  the  New  Teflament,  were 
not  competent  judges  of  the  truth  of  what 
they  affert  ?  If  they  were,  their  teflimony  is 
to  be  received  as  vaUd  ;  unlefs  it  can  be  fet 
afide  from  fomething  that  appears  in  their 
characters,  or  in  the  circumflances  which  at- 
tend their  narration.  No  juft  objection  can 
arife  from  either  of  thefe  quarters,  when  we 
candidly  attend  to  the  cafe.  The  truth  of 
the  fcriptures  is  fully  eftabUflied  by  admit- 
ting, as  all  men  do  when  not  bewildered  by 
fophiflry  or  prejudice,  that  credible  human 
tellimony  is  the  fole  criterion  of  the  truth  of 
fa6ts  otherwife  unknown.  By  this  plain  and 
approved  ftandard,  we  are  willing  that  the 
truth  of  the  fcriptures  iliould  be  tried — We 
lieed  not  fear  the  refuit. 


S7 

The  candor  and  impartiality  of  the  writers 
of  the  New  Teflament,  are  too  manifeft  to 
be  denied.  They  narrate  their  own  faults, 
without  endeavoring  to  palliate  them.  This 
exonerates  them  from  the  charge  of  attempt- 
ing to  impofe  a  forgery  on  the  world.  To 
this  they  had  no  inducement.  The  religion 
they  pubHlhed  condemns  falfehood  in  the 
ftrongefl  terms,  and  dooms  liars  and  deceiv- 
ers, in  particular,  to  eternal  mifery.  But 
had  they  been  fo  hardened,  as  to  have  been 
in  no  fear  from  the  judgment  to  come,  they 
had  no  temporal  inducement  to  fupport  their 
zeal  for  the  propagation  of  the  gofpel :  for 
by  becoming  the  open  advocates  of  it,  they 
had  to  renounce  the  pleafures,  the  riches, 
and  the  honors,  of  the  world,  and  expofed 
themfelves  to  meet  death  in  its  moft  dreadful 
forms.  But  after  all,  had  they  been  difpo- 
fed  to  deceive  mankind  with  a  falfe  flory,  it 
would  have  been  wholly  impracticable  under 
the  exifling  circumflances.  They  publifhed 
their  hillory  on  the  fcene  of  action — they 
appealed  to  public  facts — and  they  made  the 
appeal  while  the  fads  were  recent.  Their 
enemies,  who  had  both  knowledge  and  pow- 
er, would  have  unveiled  the  plot,  had  their 
fcheme  been  built  on  a  lie.  The  rulers  of 
the  Jewifh  nation  were,  as  a  body,  wholly 
oppofed  to   chriftianity,  and  would   have 


— 

crufhed  it  in  the  birth  had  their  malice  been 
able  to  have  accomplifhed  its  wifhes.  Had 
the  religion  of  Jefus  been  a  fraud,  it  would 
foon,  like  other  frauds  that  are  detefted  by 
thofe  in  power,  have  periflied  from  the  earth. 
We  are  not  to  confine  the  fcene  to  Judea, 
where  chriftianity  was  firfl  difplayed,  it  was 
carried  into  the  lefler  Afia,  into  Greece  and 
Rome  and  other  places,  v/ithin  a  few  years 
after  the  death  of  its  founder.  The  malice, 
the  learning,  and  the  prejudices  of  Heathens 
as  well  as  Jews  were  exerted  againfl  it.  Its 
propagation  was  not  in  dark  and  obfcure 
places,  but  in  the  mofl  noted  places  then  in 
the  world.  It  was  too  in  the  day  when  the 
famous  Roman  Empire  had  brought  not 
only  Judea,  but  all  countries  of  much  re- 
nown, to  bow  to  her  arms,  and  to  pour  their 
riches  into  her  treafury.  At  the  fame  time 
that  (he  extended  her  fceptre  over  the  world, 
Ihe  reigned  miflrefs  of  the  arts.  "  At  the 
*'  time  when  Chrift  appeared,  the  Roman 
*'  Empire  had  reached  the  very  meridian 
**  of  its  glory.  It  was  the  illuftrious  peri- 
*'  od,  when  power  and  policy  receiving  aid 
^'  from  learning  and  fcience,  and  embelifh- 
*'  ment  from  the  orators  and  the  poets, 
"  gave  law  to  the  world,  directed  its  tafte, 
*'  and  even  controled  its  opinions.  It  was 
*'  the  age  when  inquiry  v/as  awake  and  a(Sive 


I 


« 


<( 


59 

**  on  every  fubje6t  that  was  fuppofed  to  be 
**  of  curious  or  ufeful  invefligation,  wheth- 
*'  er  in  the  natural  or  in  the  intelledual 
world.  It  was,  in  fhort,  fuch  an  age 
as  impofture  mufl  have  found  in  every 
refped;  the  lead  aufpicious  to  its  defigns  ; 
efpecially  fuch  an  impofture  as  chriftian- 
**  ity,  if  it  had  deferved  the  name."* 

The  firft  planting  of  the  gofpel  in  the 
world,  and  its  prevalence  for  fo  long  a  time, 
under  all  the  attending  circumftances,  if  it 
were  a  forgery,  would  be  a  greater  miracle, 
than  any  it  claims  for  its  fupport ;  and 
would  be  without  a  parallel  in  the  hiftory 
of  mankind. 


*  White's  Sermons,  containing  a  view  of  Chriilianity 
md  Mahometanifm,  in  their  Hiftory,  their  Eyidence,  and 
tHeirEffe(^s,  p.  ijj,  i34» 


DISCOURSE     IIL 


The  fenfe  in  which  all  Scripture  is  given 
by  Infpiration  of  God  explained ;  and 
the  evidence  of  its  divine  original  from 
the  nature  of  the  reHgion  which  it  contains 
confidered. 


2   TIMOTHY  iii.    1 6. 

Allfcnpiure  is  give?!  by  infpiration  cfGod^  and 
is  profitable  for  dodrine^  for  reproofs  for  cor* 
re^iien^for  iiiftrudion  in  righteoufnefs. 

IN  the  tv/o  former  difcourfes  from  the 
text,  we  have  attended  to  the  truth  of 
the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tefla- 
ment.     I  now  proceed, 

II.  To  explain  ia  what  fenfe  the  phrafe 
Infpiration  ofOod^  is  to  be  underftood  when 
applied  to  allfcripture. 


6z 


By  injpirat'wn  is  to  be  under  flood,  either 
an  immediate  communication  of  fadls  or 
dodrines  from  God,  to  the  minds  of  the 
men  who  were  employed  in  delivering  the 
Bible  to  mankind,  or  in  directing  them 
what  to  write,  or  in  fecuring  them  from  er- 
ror. They  had  facts  and  dodrines  commu- 
nicated to  them  immediately  from  God,  in 
fome  inftances,  as  much  as  if  it  were  now 
communicated  to  us  what  is  tranfadling, 
this  moment,  at  the  diflance  of  thoufands 
of  miles  from  us.  Whenever  they  wrote 
any  part  of  fcripture  they  were  direded 
from  on  High  what  to  record,  and  at  the 
fame  time  they  were  fecured  from  error  in 
what  they  wrote  to  guide  the  faith  and  the 
pradice  of  mankind.  That  part  of  fcripture 
•which  does  not  fall  under  infpiration  in  the 
firft  fenfe  that  has  been  given,  falls  under  it 
in  the  two  lafl  fenfes  ;  and  hence  it  may  be 
faid  with  jflricl  propriety,  that  all  fcripture  is 
given  by  infpiration  of  God^  and  forms  an  in- 
falUble  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

The  meaning  of  infpiration  firfl  given, 
vAW  be  eafily  underflood  by  a  few  examples. 
To  Noah  was  immediately  revealed  that  a 
deluge  would  come  upon  the  earth — To  A- 
braham,  that  his  feed  fhould  be  afilided  by 
a  people  in  whofe  land  they  fliould  be  a 


03 

iT:ranger,  four  hundred  years— To  Mofes, 
the  deliverance  of  the  Ifraelites  from  their 
Egyptian  bondage  by  his  hand — ^To  Samuel, 
the  overthrow  of  Saul,  and  the  eftablifh- 
ment  of  David  on  the  throne  of  lirael — To 
Jeremiah,  the  feventy  years  captivity  of  the 
kingdom  of  Judah — ^I'o  Paul,  the  Anti- 
chriftian  apoflacy — And  to  John,  the  dura- 
tion of  the  reign  of  the  man  of  fm,  and  the 
principal  events  relative  to  the  church  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  Infpiration,  in  this  high 
fenfe,  is  not  only  employed  in  revealing  facts 
but  dodrines  ;  fuch  as  the  mode  of  the  di- 
vine exiflence,  the  character  and  offices  of 
Jefus  Chrift,  the  immortality  of  the  foul, 
the  future  judgment,  and  the  refurredion 
of  the  dead.  Under  this  head  may  alfo  be 
ranked  pofitive  precepts,  or  inftitutions ; 
whether  binding  on  the  Jewifh  or  the  chrif- 
tian  church. 

Those  who  acknowledge  the  exiflence 
of  God,  will  not  deny  the  poffibility  of  hig 
communicating  truth  to  the  human  mind  in 
this  extraordinary  manner  ;  whether  by 
vifions,  by  an  audible  voice,  or  in  any  other 
way.  No  perfon  demands  credit  from  oth- 
ers, as  having  fuch  immediate  intercourfe 
with  the  Deity,  unlefs  he  evidence  his  illu- 
mination by  means  as  extraordinary  as  the 


I 


64 

•way  in  which  he  received  his  knowledge. 
Hence,  we  may  fee  the  importance  of  mira- 
cles to  confirm  the  divine  original  of  the  Bi- 
ble ;  as  will  hereafter  be  confidered.  We 
may  be  under  as  real  obligation  to  receive 
as  divine  what  is  revealed  immediately  to 
others,  astho'  it  were  revealed  in  the  fame 
way  to  us.  The  evidence  that  God  hath 
commiflioned  others  to  fpeak  in  his  name 
may  be  fo  conclufive,  as  to  leave  us  without 
excufe  in  unbelief.  Whether  the  Mofl  High 
fpeak  to  us  without,  or  through,  the  inflru- 
mentality  of  creatures,  his  voice  is  the  fame, 
and  his  authority  is  equally  binding.  His 
right  to  be  obeyed  is  not  founded  on  the 
manner  of  communicating  his  will,  but  in 
his  nature,  and  in  our  relation  to  him* 
Whenever  we  have  certain  proof  fet  before 
us,  that  the  righteous  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth  commands  our  faith  or  obedience,  we 
are  forbidden  to  withhold  our  homage  a  fm- 
gle  moment. 

In  defining  infpiration  it  was  obferved,  in 
the  fecond  place,  that  the  men  who  penned 
the  fcriptures  were  direded  by  God  what 
to  write.  I  need  make  no  exception  here 
for  fuch  inflances  as  that  of  Baruch,  and 
others,  employed  by  the  infpired  men  as 
fcribes  j  becaufe  thefc  lafl  were  the  mere 


organs  of  the  men  who  took  them  into  their 
fervice,  and  pronounced  the  words  which 
they  wrote.  If  the  Prophets,  EvangeHfts, 
or  Apoflles,  were,  in  any  inflance  left  to 
their  own  difcretion  what  to  record  in  the 
fcriptures,  thefe  writings  could  not,  with  any 
propriety,  be  confidered  throughout  as  giv- 
en by  infpiration  of  God  ;  as  Paul  declares 
in  the  text.  Befides,  if  the  infpired  men 
were,  in  any  inftance,  left  to  their  own  dif- 
cretion what  to  infert  in  the  Bible,  we  might 
mutilate  it  to  fuch  a  degree,  as  to  render  it  a 
very  unmeaning  book.  This  has  actually 
been  done  by  fome  nominal  chriflians.  They 
have  profelfed  to  believe  in  the  fa^ls  and 
dodrines  immediately  revealed  from  heav- 
en ;  but  have  confidered  the  fubfequent 
building  upon  them  in  the  fcriptures,  as  the 
opinions  of  fallible  men.  By  treating  the 
facred  volume  in  this  manner,  they  have 
brought  it  down  to  fpeak  a  language  which 
gives  very  little  offence  to  open  infidels. 
The  approach  of  the  former  clafs  of  perfons 
to  the  latter  is  fo  near,  as  to  render  the  dif- 
ference fcarcely  difcernible  ;  and  paves  the 
way  for  their  complete  union. 

In  perfect  confiftency  with  what  has  been 
faid,  if  is  admitted,  that  the  Prophets,  the 
F  2 


65 


Evangeliils,  and  the  Apoflles,  might  have  a 
knowledge  of  many  things  inferred  in  the 
canon,  by  their  own  obfervation,  and  the 
accounts  given  them  by  other  men.  The 
revelations  made  to  the  patriarchs,  and  the 
fads  handed  down  from  one  generation  to 
another,  probably  were  the  fources  through 
which  Mofes  was  furnifhed  with  matter  for 
the  book  of  Genefis.  At  the  fame  time  he 
was  directed  by  omnifcience  what  to  record. 
This  fuperintending  influence  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  gave  the  fame  authority  to  what  he 
wrote,  as  tho'  it  had  been  immediately  com- 
municated to  his  mind. 

The  third  fenfe  in  which  infpiration  is 
taken,  and  that  is,  fecuring  the  facred  pen- 
men from  error  in  what  they  wrote,  is  as 
neceflary,  as  the  former  ones,  to  give  to  the 
fcriptures  the  divine  authority  which  they 
claim,  in  every  thing  that  relates  to  our  re- 
ligious faith  and  pradice.  Whatever  doc- 
trines or  laws  may  be  fuppofed  to  have  been 
given  by  the  Moft  High,  we  can  have  no 
fatisfadory  evidence  of  their  divine  original, 
if  the  men  who  are  faid  to  have  recorded 
them,  were  not  fecured  from  error  in  com- 
mitting them  to  writing. 

It  may  be  obferved  here,  that  the  infalli- 
bility of  the  fcriptures  is  confined  to  the  re* 


— 

Ugious  inpLruclion  which  they  contain.  As 
they  were  revealed  as  much  for  the  benefit 
of  the  unlearned  as  the  learned,  they  are  not 
employed  in  teaching  human  fcience,  or  in 
correding  errors  relative  to  it.  Matters  of 
this  kind  are  but  incidentally  mentioned, 
and  always  for  moral  purpofes.  It  is  whol- 
ly foreign  to  their  defign  to  decide  on  the 
difputes  in  natural  philofophy  or  aftronomy. 
They  leave  thefe,  and  fimilar  things,  as  they 
find  them.  They,  for  inflance,  fpeakof  the 
rifmg  and  the  fetting  of  the  fun,  in  a  flile 
which  is  familiar  to  all  mankind,  and  in  the 
fame  manner  which  is  ufed,  even  by  tfaofe 
who  have  gone  farthefl  in  the  fludy  of  the 
kingdom  of  nature,  at  the  prefent  day. 

It  is  not  contended  that  the  perfons  who 
were  infpired  to  write  the  Bible,  were  free 
fromfm  or  error,  confidered  ^smen;  fof 
their  faults  and  miflakes  ftand  on  thefacred 
pages.  Even  a  meek  Mofes  offended,  du- 
ring the  abode  of  the  Ifraelites  at  Kadefh, 
when  he  faid  to  them,  "  mufl  zae  fetch  you 
water  out  of  this  rock  ?''  David,  who  wrote 
moft  of  the  Pfalms,  committed  an  atrocious 
crime  in  the  matter  of  Uriah.  Peter  deni- 
ed his  Lord  and  Mafler,  and  at  the  fame 
time  horribly  tranfgreffed  the  third  com- 
mandment.   The  other  inipired  men  faid 


6^ 


and  did  enough  to  convince  all  who  have 
read  their  hillory,  that  they  were  men  of 
like  pafTions  with  others.  But,  as  they 
were  under  the  immediate  07-  fupcrint ending  i?i^ 
fiucnce  of  infpiration^  they  uttered  nothing 
but  what  is  true  ;  either  as  matter  of  fad, 
or  dodrine,  or  warning,  or  promife,  or 
threatning,  or  is,  in  fome  way,  related  to  the 
defign  of  the  author  of  the  fcriptures,  in 
giving  them  to  the  human  race.  The  fa- 
cred  peuKien  declared  facts  when  they  told 
their  own  fms.  The  evangelifls  are  to  be 
credited,  when  they  inform  of  the  difputes 
among  the  Apoflles,  who  fhould  be  the 
greateil  in  the  Meffiah's  kingdom,  and  of 
their  ignorance  of  its  nature.  It  is  as  really 
the  defign  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  have  the 
fms,  the  follies,  and  the  ignorance,  of  pious 
men,  expofed,  whether  infpired  or  not,  as 
to  have  dodrines  and  precepts  recorded. 
It  will  appear,  by  a  httle  reflexion,  that  thofc 
blemifhes  may  be  improved  to  enforce  the 
reproof  and  the  corredion  named  in  the 
text.  When  we  fee  a  Mofes,  a  David,  and 
a  Peter,  offend,  is  not  the  warning  of  the 
Apoftle  highly  enforced,  Let  him  that 
tbinkeih  hejiandeth  take  heedkji  he  fall  ? 

The  words   and   adions    of  Satan  and 
lyicked  men  are  recorded  in  the  fcriptures  j 


to  lay  open  their  characters,  to  juflify  God  in 
punifliing,  and  to  warn  againit  traveling  in 
the  path  of  his  enemies.  It  is  declared  of 
the  devil,  "  That  he  was  a  murderer  from 
the  beginning ;  and  that  he  is  a  liar,  and 
the  father  of  it."  We  find  this  character 
exemplified  in  the  hiflory  which  is  given  of 
him.  He  came  with  the  malicious  defign 
of  a  murderer,  to  our  mother  Eve,  and  with 
a  lie  in  his  mouth,  when  hefaid,  yejhall  not 
furely  die.  This  firfl  lie  that  was  ever  told 
in  our  world,  has  often  been  repeated  fince ; 
and  the  tempter  ftill  continues  to  attempt 
the  ruin  of  the  human  race  by  fraud  and  ma- 
lice. Is  there  a  falfe,  fubtle,  a  malicious, 
and  a  potent,  enemy  to  mankind,  conflantly 
going  about  like  a  roaring  Hon,  feeking 
whom  he  may  devour  ?  And  is  it  not  wor- 
thy of  divine  wifdom  and  goodnefs,  to  ap- 
prife  and  warn  the  human  race  of  his  def- 
trudive  defign  ?  How  can  this  be  done, 
without  giving  to  us  fome  knowledge  of  the 
difpofition  of  the  adverfary,  and  the  evils  he 
has  introduced  ?  It  was  certainly  a  high 
proof  of  the  benevolence  and  mercy  of 
Chrift,  when  he  faid  to  Peter,  "  Simon, 
Simon,  behold  Satan  hath  defired  to  have 
you,  that  he  may  fift  you  as  wheat ;  but 
I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail 


7^ 

We  have  fet  before  us  the  character  of 
the  wicked  generation  that  lived  in  Noah's 
time,  in  Abraham's,  and  in  fubfequent  ages 
previous  to  the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  fmce  ; 
to  illuflrate  the  depravity  of  the  human 
heart,  to  proclaim  the  righteoufnefs  of  God 
in  taking  vengeance,  and  to  difplay  the 
riches  of  his  grace  towards  the  faved.  We 
are  moreover  warned  by  fuch  reprefenta- 
tions  againfl  trufling  in  man,  and  are  C(mn- 
felled  to  put  our  truft  in  the  living  God, 
Particular  examples  of  wickednefs  in  perfons 
of  different  ranks  and  ftations,  and  fome  of 
them  under  the  beil  external  advantages,  or 
under  the  mod  folemn  admonitions,  are  a- 
dapted  to  convince  us  of  the  obilinacy  of 
fmners,  and  that  the  change  which  is 
wrought  in  the  renewed  is  efieded  by  the 
fovereign  mercy  of  God.  A  hardened  Pha- 
raoh, a  blafpheming  Rabfhakeh,  a  proud 
Nebuchadnezzar,  a  cruel  Herod,  and  a 
treacherous  Judas,  ftand  as  fo  many  beacons, 
to  reprove  and  warn  mankind.  It  is  as  wor- 
thy of  infinite  truth  and  purity  to  delineate 
fuch  characters,  as  thofe  of  a  meek  Mofes,  a 
pious  Hezekiah,  a  faithful  Daniel,  a  believ- 
ing Simeon,  and  an  amiable  John.  When 
we  behold  ourfelves  compafled  about  with  fo 
great  a  cloud  of  witnefles,  as  facred  hiflory 
points  cut  to  us,  we  have  every  inducement 


7t 

to  lay  afide  every  weight,  and  the  fin  which 
doth  fo  eafily  befet  us,  and  to  run  with  pa- 
tience the  chriflian  race. 

If  any  will  go  about  to  vilify  the  fcrip- 
tures,  becaufe  they  contain  an  account  of 
the  corruptions  of  the  human  race,  they 
betray  great  ignorance  and  wickednefs. 
Such  reprefentations  as  the  Bible  contains 
on  this  lubjc6i:,  are  fo  far  from  fixing  a  (lain 
on  the  character  of  Jehovah,  that,  in  the 
connexion  in  which  they  (land,  they  paint 
his  hatred  of  fin  in  the  moil  glaring  co- 
lours. No  perfon  of  an  honed  heart,  and 
who  is  tolerably  acquainted  with  the  facred 
writings,  can  long  remain  at  a  lofs  what 
things  are  held  up  in  them  to  be  imitated, 
and  what  to  be  avoided.  The  fcriptures 
coUcdively  may  be  fliled  T/je  Word  of  the 
LoRD^  as  they  inform  us,  what  the  Lord  di- 
rects us  to  believe,  what  to  praclife,  and  vrhat 
to  (hun.  Their  general  defign  is  the  fame  ; 
whether  they  are  delivered  in  the  form  of 
dodrine,  precept,  or  hiftory. 

A  LARGE  proportion  of  the  Bible  is  hif- 
torical.  This  form  of  writing  is  well  fuited 
to  engage  the  mind  of  the  reader,  as  it  com- 
municates inllruclion  in  a  pleafing  manner. 
Of  the  truth  of  this  every  one  maybe  con- 
vinced, by  refleding  on  the  effeds  which  he 


72 

perceives  from  liftening  to  an  Interefling  fto- 
ry.  Who  can  avoid  being  moved  in  read- 
ing the  life  of  Jofeph  ;  the  prefervation  of 
Mofes  when  expofed  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  of  Egypt,  in  his  infancy  j  the  life  of 
Elijah,  and  others.  The  accounts  which  are 
given  of  particular  perfons  in  fcripture,  are 
not  defigned  to  amufe,  like  a  romance  ;  but 
to  afford  moral  and  religious  inflrudlion. 
The  hiflory  of  the  birth,  life,  death,  refur- 
Te<Elion,  and  afcenfion,  of  Jefus  Chriil,  com- 
prifes  events  of  greater  magnitude,  and  high- 
er importance,  than  any  other  that  have  been 
pubUfhed  in  this  world. 

Scripture  hiflory  confirms  the  truth  of 
the  prophecies,  by  conducting  us  to  the  ful- 
filment of  many  of  them.  It  unfolds  the 
happy  tendency  of  piety  and  virtue,  and  the 
mifery  that  is  derived  from  fm.  By  the  hif- 
tory  of  the  Jewifh  nation,  in  particular,  are 
exhibited  the  effe£ls  of  obedience,  and  of 
difobedience,  as  they  refpe£t  communities. 
Peculiar  as  was  the  form  of  government 
under  which  that  people  were  placed,  im- 
portant inllrudions  are  given  by  the  divine 
condudl:  towards  them,  to  all  mankind. 
The  rife  and  fall  of  heathen  empires,  narra- 
ted in  the  facred  writings,  proclaim  the  doc- 
|:rine  of  divine  providence ;  and  announce, 


1^ 

that  however  nations  may  be  lifted  up  with 
their  conquefls  and  profperity,  they  will, 
fooner  or  later,  have  their  reckoning  day. 
The  Lord  will  caufe  the  arrogancy  of  the 
proud  to  ceafe,  and  will  lay  low  the  haugh- 
tinefs  of  the  terrible. 

The  long  lifts  of  names  which  are  found 
in  feveral  of  the  fcripture  books,  are  not 
without  ufe.  Among  the  feveral  purpofes 
anfwered  by  the  infertion  of  thofe  cata- 
logues, the  two  following  are  obvious,  and 
important  :  the  one  is,  to  confirm  the  de- 
fcent  of  ail  nations  from  Shem,  Ham,  and 
Japheth  ;  the  other  is,  to  evince  that  Chrift, 
as  concerning  the  flefh,  defcended  from  A- 
braham,  in  the  line  of  Ifaac  and  Jacob,  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  and  the  houfe  of  David,  a- 
greeably  to  predidion  and  promife. 

Many  of  the  common  affairs  and  occur- 
rences of  life  are  recorded  in  the  Bible. 
Were  all  thefe  excluded,  we  fhould  not  have 
evidence,  at  leaft  in  its  prefent  degree,  that 
the  facred  volume  was  defigned  for  the  ufe 
of  mankind.  It  defcribes  them  not  only 
with  refped  to  their  moral  ftate,  and  future 
deftination,  but  in  their  various  concerns 
with  the  prefent  world.  Our  race,  for  in- 
flance,  are  reprefented  in  the  fcriptures,  as- 
G 


74 

having  need  of  food  for  fuftenance,  and  rai- 
ment for  clothing,  fo  long  as  they  remain  on 
the  earth.  The  neceflity  of  thefe  is  not  di- 
minifhed  by  pofTelTmg  the  fpirit  of  piety,  or 
of  infpiration.  God  enjoins  in  his  word  a 
temperate  and  charitable  ufe  of  worldly 
goods,  but  he  doth  not  require  that  abflrac- 
tion  from  them  of  the  living,  which  can  be 
found  only  among  thofe  who  are  lodged  in 
the  grave.  All  temporal  enjoyments,  inclu- 
ding natural  life,  are  to  be  given  up,  and 
literally  to  be  parted  with,  rather  than  deny 
Chrifl.  At  the  fame  time  it  is  to  be  obfer- 
ved,  that  the  facrifices  which  are  made  of 
earthly  blefTings  to  indulge  a  capricious  fanc- 
timony,are  not  the  fruits  of  evangelical  love, 
but  the  offspring  of  pride.  Religionijfls 
have  appeared  under  the  chriftian  name, 
who  have  reprefented  the  perfection  of  piety 
as  Very  much  confiding  in  "  neglecting  of 
the  body,"  and  in  *'  abflaining  from  meats 
which  God  hath  created  to  be  received  with 
thankfgiving  of  them  who  believe  and  know 
the  truth."  The  Apoflle  Paul  in  writing 
for  the  cloak  that  he  left  at  Troas,  for  the 
books,  and  the  parchments,  fhows,  that  as 
a  man  he  had  the  fame  wants,  and  might  be 
benefitted  by  the  fame  outward  convenien-/ 
ces,  as  other  men.  The  infertion  of  this 
paflage  ia  the  fcriptures,  as  well  as  of  other 


75 

incidents  of  a  like  kind,  does  not  appear  tri- 
fling, after  what  has  been  faid  on  the  pro- 
priety of  introducing  in  the  Bible  the  com- 
mon affairs  of  life.  It  is  as  really  the  mind 
of  the  author  of  that  facred  book,  that  fuch 
things  fhould  be  incidentally  inferted,  as 
thofe  that  were  immediately  revealed  from 
on  high. 

There  are  fome  things  which  the  fcrip- 
tures  declare  to  be  lawful,  that  may  not  be 
expedient  under  certain  circumflances.  To 
a  cafe  of  that  kind  the  Apoflle  Paul  refers 
in  I  Cor.  vii.  6.  But  I /peak  this  by  permif" 
fion^  and  not  of  commandment.  Under  the 
head  of  expediency  is  alfo  to  be  placed  the 
advice  of  the  Apoflle  in  the  25th  verfe  of 
the  fame  chapter,  AW  concerning  virgins^  I 
have  no  commandment  of  the  Lord  ;  yet  I  give 
7ny  judgment,  as  one  thai  hath  obtained  mercy  of 
the  Lord  to  be  faithful.  Tlje  Apoflle  is  here 
confidering  whether  it  were  eligible  for 
chriflians  to  marry  while  fuffering  perfecu- 
tion,  as  they  were  when  he  wrote  this  epiflle. 
He  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  it  would  be 
better  for  them  to  remain  in  a  flate  of  celib- 
acy. He  leaves  it,  however,  with  individu- 
als to  determine  for  themfelves.  As  God 
hath,  by  a  perpetual  law,  authorized  mar- 
riage between  the  fexes,  without  the  forbid- 


76         ■ 

den  degrees  of  confanguinity,  and  where 
nothing  with  refped  to  chara6ler  forbids, 
the  Apoflle  could  not  be  commiiTioned  to 
deliver  a  prohibitory  precept  in  the  prefent 
inftance.  To  the  Corinthians,  who  had 
written  to  him  to  inquire  whether  it  were 
proper  that  marriages  fhould  go  on  as  ufual 
among  their  members,  it  was  of  no  lefs  im- 
portance to  be  informed  what  was  left  to  in- 
dividual choice,  than  to  know  what  was  pofi- 
tively  binding  on  all  in  other  things.  The 
whole  church  of  Chrifl  is  as  really  inflrudt- 
ed  by  the  text  under  confideration  as  by  any 
other.  Befides,  it  is  foretold  in  i  Tim.  iv» 
that,  among  the  apoflates  in  the  latter  times, 
there  fhould  rife  up  thofe  who  would  forbid 
to  marry.  This  prediction  has  been  verified 
by  the  decrees  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and 
of  fome  other  nominal  chriflians.  The  e- 
vent  has  therefore  fhown  the  importance  of 
a  fcripture  paffage,  in  which  an  Apoflle  de- 
clares that  God  never  prohibited  marriage 
in  times  of  perfecution ;  but  that  even  in 
fuch  feafons  he  has  left  it  to  the  judgment  of 
individual  chriflians,  whether  to  enter  into 
the  matrimonial  bond  or  not.  If  the  fore- 
going  remarks  be  jufl,  it  will  follow,  that 
the  text  in  queflion  was  inferted  in  the  Bi- 
ble by  the  fuperint ending  influence  of  the 
fpirit  of  infpi ration. 


17 

When  the  Apoflle  fays  in  the  beginning 
of  the  1 2th  verfe,  But  to  the  reft  fpeak  /,  not 
the  Lord^  his  meaning  apparently  is,  that  he 
was  going  to  deliver  fomething  to  guide  the 
pradice  of  the  church,  which  had  not  been 
before  particularly  revealed :  It  is  for  this 
reafon  he  declares,  "  fpeak  /,  not  the  Lord/* 
That  he  is  fo  to  be  underflood,  appears  from 
the  words  which  immediately  follow  in  the 
1 2th  and    13th  verfes  compared  with  the 
loth  and  nth  verfes.     The  paflages  which 
fland  next  in  order  to  the  claufe  already  ci- 
ted, are.  If  ajiy  brother  hath  a  wife  that  believ* 
eth   not^  andjhe  be  pleafed  is  dwell  with  him^ 
let  him  not  pttt  her  away.     And  the  woman 
which  hath  an  hiifband  that  believcth  not^  and 
if  he  be  plcafcd  to  dwell  with  her^  let  her  not 
leave  him.     On  the  converfion  of  a  hufband, 
or  a  wife,  from  heathenifm  to  chriftianity, 
a  queftion  naturally  arofe,  whether  the  be- 
liever was  to  renounce  matrimonial  connex- 
ion with  his  or   her  unbelieving  correlate, 
as    the  Jews  who  had  married  idolatrous 
wives,  were  commanded  to  do,  in  the  days  of 
Ezra.    The  Apoflle  forbids  divorces  on  that 
ground  ;  and  the  prohibition  that  he  deliv- 
ers, appears  to  be  clothed  with  the  fame  di- 
vine authority  as  the  one  named  in  the  loth 
and  1 1  th  verfes,  which  contain  the  foliow- 
G  2 


78 

ing  words,  And  unto  the  married  I  command ^ 
yet  not  /,  but  the  Lord,  Let  7iot  the  wife  de^ 
fart  from  her  hiipand :  But,  and  iffhe  depart^ 
let  her  remain  unmarried,  or  be  reconciled  to 
her  hujhand :  and  let  not  the  hufbandput  away 
his  wife.  In  this  lad  quotation,  the  words 
"  not  I,  but  the  Lord,''  refer  to  what  Chrift 
had  before  fpoken  on  the  fubjed  of  divorce, 
recorded  in  Matthew  v.  32,  and  xix.  9, 
Mark  x.  11,  12.  Luke  xvi.  18.  With  the 
thoughts  kept  in  mind  which  have  been  fug- 
gelted  in  anfwer  to  the  difficulties,  which 
have  arifen  from  fome  parts  of  the  feventh 
chapter  of  the  firfl  epiftle  to  the  Corinthian 
church,  it  will,  I  apprehend,  be  eafy  to  main- 
tain that  the  whole  chapter  cl-aims  a  place  in 
the  infpired  volume,  as  much  as  any  other. 
If  the  original  penmen  of  the  Bible  were,  in 
any  inftance,  left  to  their  own  discretion 
what  to  infert,  it  will  be  impoflible  to  defend 
againfl  infidels,  that  allfcfipture  is  given  by 
infpiration  of  God,  as  is  affirmed  in  the  text. 
The  Prophets,  the  Evangelifts,  and  the  A- 
poflles,  when  their  matter  was  immediately 
revealed  from  on  high,  or  when  it  was  re- 
ceived in  other  ways,  were  guided  by  the 
Holy  Ghofl  what  to  write,  and  were  fecured 
from  error  in  writing.     I  proceed, 

III.  To  bring  arguments  to  prove  that  all 
fcripture  is  given  by  infpiration  of  God, 


19 

The  Jirjl  argument  may  be  taken  front 
the  nature  of  the  religion  contained  in  the 
Bible.  In  this,  book  the  Deity  is  reprefented 
as  afpirit,  pofleffed  of  an  eternal,  underived, 
and  independent  exiftence  ;  as  being  every 
where  prefent  at  one  and  the  fame  time  ;  as 
being  infinite  in  knowledge,  and  in  power, 
and  in  every  other  attribute  that  is  neceifary 
to  conflitute  abfolute  greatnefs.  Jehovah, 
the  God  whom  chriftians  adore,  is  not  only 
infinitely  great,  but  infinitely  good — He  is 
love.  He  is  the  rock,  his  work  is  perfect  ; 
for  all  his  ways  are  judgment :  a  God  of 
truth,  and  without  iniquity  ;  jufl  and  right 
is  he.  He  is  the  Lord,  the  Lord  God, 
merciful  and  gracious,  long-fufFering,  and 
abundant  in  goodnefs  and  truth.  By  the 
word  of  the  Lord  were  the  heavens  made  ; 
and  all  the  hofl  of  them  by  the  breath  of  his 
mouth.  He  gathereth  the  waters  of  the  fea 
together  as  an  heap  ;  he  layeth  up  the  depth 
in  florehoufes.  Let  all  the  earth  fear  the 
Lord  ;  let  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  world 
{land  in  awe  of  him  :  for  he  fpake,  and  it 
was  done,  he  commanded,  and  it  flood  fafl. 
He  made  the  world,  and  all  things  therein. 
He  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of 
men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  determined  the  times  before  ap- 
pointed, and  the  bounds  of  their  habitation. 


«0 


In  Him  all  creatures  live,  and  move,  and 
have  their  being.  The  counfel  of  the  Lord 
(landeth  forever,  the  thoughts  of  his  heart 
to  all  generations.  The  Lord  hath  prepa- 
red his  throne  in  the  heavens  ;  and  his  king- 
dom ruleth  over  all.  The  Lord  is  high  a- 
bove  all  nations,  and  his  glory  above  the 
heavens.  Promotion  cometh  neither  from 
the  eaft,  nor  from  the  weft,  nor  from  the 
fouth ;  but  God  is  the  Judge :  he  putteth 
down  one,  and  fetteth  up  another.  The 
Moft  High  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men, 
and  giveth  it  to  whomfoever  he  will.  He  is 
the  blelfed  and  only  Potentate,  the  King  of 
Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords.  He  is  the  one 
Lawgiver,  who  is  able  to  fave,  and  to  de- 
flroy.  He  hath  opened  a  door  of  hope  to  a 
fmful  world  through  Jefus  Chrift.  By  his 
fpirit  he  forms  the  hearts  of  fmners  to  holi- 
nefs,  and  prepares  them  for  eternal  glory. 
He  is  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth,  and  will 
render  righteous  retribution  to  all  intelligent 
accountable  creatures,  forever.*  Doth  not 
fuch  a  God  deferve  the  devout  and  thankful 
homage  of  man's  heart  ?  *'  O  come,  let  us 
worfhip  and  bow  down  :  let  us  kneel  before 


*  I  John  iv.  1 6.  Deut.  xxxii.  4.  Exod.  xxxlv.  6.  Pfaltn 
Xxxiii.  6 — 9.  Adls  xvii.  24,  a6.  Pililm  ciii.  19.  cxiii.  4. 
Ixxv.  6,  7.  Dan.  iv.  17.  i  Tina.  vi.  ly  James  iv.  la,  and 
oiany  otlier  pUcss. 


8i 


the  Lord  our  Maker!  For  the  Lord  is 
great,  and  greatly  to  be  praifed :  he  is  to  be 
feared  above  all  gods." 

The  moral  law,  delivered  from  Mount  Si- 
nai, confifls  often  precepts  ;  the  four  firfl  of 
which  point  out  our  duty  to  God,  and  the  fix 
lafl  our  duty  to  mankind.  The  fum  of  the 
whole  is,  to  love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all 
our  heart,  and  with  all  our  foul,  and  with  all 
our  (Irength,  and  with  all  our  mind ;  and 
our  neighbor  as  ourfel  ves.  The  fpirit  of  this 
law  was  binding  on  man  from  the  creation, 
and  every  one  of  its  precepts  will  remain 
obligatory  upon  him  for  ever.  What  can 
be  more  reafonable  than  that  an  intelligent 
creature  be  required  to  place  his  fupreme 
affedions  upon  that  infinite  Being,  who 
gave  birth  to  him  and  all  things  around 
him  ?  And  preferves  and  governs  his  work- 
manfliip,  and  is  the  fum  of  perfection  and 
blelTednefs  ?  The  other  branch  of  the  mor- 
al law,  which  refpefts  our  neighbor,  is 
built  upon  truth  and  equity.  The  portion 
of  rational  moral  exiftence  in  our  fellow- 
creatures  is  of  as  much  worth  as  ours,  and 
deferves  the  fame  regard.  Befides,  it  muft 
follow  from  our  focial  nature,  and  the  ne- 
cefTity  of  its  indulgence  for  our  happinefs, 
that  if  we  are  ftrangers   to  holy  love,  we 


82 

cannot  enjoy  fociety  in   pcrfeftion,  or  hare 
any  of  its  pleafures  long  continued  to  us. 

A  CODE  of  laws  was  given  to  the  Jews, 
befide  the  ten  commandments,  refpefting 
their  peculiar  government  and  worfhip, 
which  was  defigned  to  lad  only  until  the 
time  of  reformation,  or  the  eftablilhment 
of  the  New  Teftament  worfhip  ;  when  alfo 
the  lamp  of  divine  truth  v/as  to  be  carried, 
as  we  have  feen  to  the  Gentile  nations. 
The  peculiar  inflitutions  given  to  the  Ifrael- 
ites  under  the  Mofaic  economy,  were  partly, 
adapted  to  their  uncultivated  flate  :  fuch, 
for  inftance,  was  that  of  the  cities  of  refuge, 
to  provide  for  the  fecurity  of  thofe  who 
might  undefignedly  take  away  the  life  of 
any  perfon.  This  inftitution,  however, 
with  many  others,  was  defigned  to  teach 
the  necellity  of  an  atonement  for  fmful 
man,  and  of  his  flying  to  it  as  the  only  way 
of  efcaping  from  the  curfe  of  God's  holy 
law.  Jehovah  taught  the  children  of  Ifrael, 
for  a  long  time  concerning  the  advent  of 
the  Mefliah,  and  the  nature  of  his  kingdom, 
by  types  and  fhadows.  Particular  precepts 
which  may  appear  to  us,  under  our  circura^ 
ilances,  and  at  our  diilance  of  time  from 
their  exiflence,  of  fmall  moment,  were  of 
great  importance  to  that  people  ;  as  calcu- 


fated  to  keep  them  diftind:  *  from  other  na- 
tions, and  to  wean  them  from  idolatrous 
rites,  to  which  they  were  ftrongly  inclined. 
We  may  add,  that  in  all  probability,  had 
the  Jewifh  ritual  been  as  fimple  as  the 
Chriflian,  the  Iiraelites  could  not  have  been 
kept  to  the  obfervance  of  it  in  any  tolerable 
degree,  with  their  general  charader,  with- 
out a  conftant  feries  of  miraculous  interpo- 
fitions  :  But  fuch  conflant  departures  from 
the  laws  of  nature,  would,  in  time,  have 
ceafed  to  excite  wonder,  and  the  end  for 
which  miracles  are  wrought,  would  have 
been  defeated. 

We  may  determine  from  the  condudl  of 
infinite  wifdom,  that  it  was  not  proper  that 
divine  revelation  fhould  communicate  all 
the  light  to  mankind  in  the  days  of  Mofes, 
•which  it  has  communicated  fince.  The 
communication  of  rruth  was  gradual,  as  ap- 
pears from  comparing  the  two  Telliaments 
together.  Light  was  conftantly  increafmg 
in  the  Jewifh  church,  by  the  rife  of  new 
prophets,  or  the  fulfilment  of  former  proph- 
ecies, until  the  Sinai  covenant  was  abolifhed. 
Comparatively  dark  as  the  ancient  difpenfa- 
tion  was,  which  continued  for  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  years,  every  devout  worfhip- 
per  knew,  that  to  obey  was  better  than  fac- 


J4_ 

tifice  ;  and  tha!  the  fum  of  duty  confifls  iH 
ddingju/ily^and  in  loving  mercy,  and  in  ivalk^ 
ing  humbly  with  God,  The  Jews  were  abun- 
dantly taught  that  the  Meiliah  would  be- 
come incarnate,  and  dwell  among  men  ; 
and  that  by  his  advent  light  would  break 
forth  in  greater  brightnefs  than  in  any  for- 
mer period.  Hence,  the  w^oman  of  Sama- 
ria, who  believed  in  the  Old  Teftament,  faid, 
in  her  conference  with  Chrift,  in  John  iv, 
*'  I  know  that  MefTias  cometh,  which  is 
called  Chrift  :  when  he  is  come,  he  will  tell, 
us  all  things." 

The  manner  in  which  God  is  to  be  wor- 
fhipped,  as  revealed  in  fcripture,  is  pure  and 
rational :  and  contains  an  admirable  difplay 
of  infinite  majefty  and  condefcenfion.  The 
homage  required  is  adapted  to  fill  the  foul 
with  holy  reverence,  and  to  infpire  it  with 
hope ;  "  For  thus  faith  the  high  and  lofty 
one  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whofe  name  is 
holy,  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with 
him  alfo  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble 
fpirit,  to  revive  the  fpirit  of  the  humble,  and 
to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones.'^* 

How  apoftate  man  may  come  before  the 
Lord  and  find  acceptance,  is  a  queftion  oa 

*  Ifaiah  Irii.  15. 


85 

which  the  light  of  nature  is  wholly  filent. 
It  is  only  in  the  infpired  volume  that  the  doc- 
trine of  the  ^/o/z^z/zd'^//,  which  hath  been  made 
by  the  Son  of  God,  is  revealed.  The  mediato- 
rial plan  was  promulgated  early  after  the  a- 
poflacy  of  our  firft  parents,  even  before  they 
were  banillied  from  the  garden  of  Eden  for 
their  difobedience.  In  the  fulnefs  of  time 
the  promifed  Saviour  appeared  in  the  world, 
made  his  foul  an  offering  for  fin,  rofe  from 
the  dead,  and  afcendcd  to  fit  at  the  Father's 
right  hand.  Through  him  penitent  finners 
draw  near  to  God,  are  delivered  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  and  are  made  heirs  of  eter- 
nal life.  Whatever  difficulties  attend  the 
expiatory  fcheine  exhibited  in  the  gofpel,  we 
may  clearly  difcern  in  it,  the  infinite  purity 
and  reclitude  of  God*s  character  and  law — 
his  hatred  of  fin  ;  and  the  riches  of  his 
grace.  Thefe  prominent  features  of  the 
fcripture  doclrine  of  atonement,  declare  it  to 
be  worthy  of  the  wifdom  of  the  divine 
mind  ;  and  recommend  it  in  the  higheft 
manner  to  our  fallen  race.  It  is  only  in 
confequence  of  the  interpofition  of  Jefus 
Chrift,  that  any  of  mankind  have  obtained 
the  heavenly  happinefs  ;  whether  before  or 
fmce  the  actual  incarnation  of  the  Son  of 
God  :  "  Neither  is  there  falvation  in  any 
H 


^6 


other ;  for  there  is  none  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  mull 
be  faved." 

Revelation  brings  to  light  the  future 
exiftence  of  man,  the  refurredlion  of  the 
body,  the  future  judgment,  and  the  portion 
ofthejufland  the  unjufl  in  the  world  to 
come.  Thefe  are  folemn  truths  ;  fuited  to 
deter  the  wicked,  and  to  encourage  the  good 
patiently  to  continue  in  well-doing.  Noth- 
ing (lamps  value  on  time — on  man's  prefent 
life,  like  the  eternal  ftate  which  is  to  follow; 
in  which  each  one  is  to  receive  from  the 
righteous  judge  of  the  living  and  the  dead, 
according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body. 
The  punifhment  threatened  to  the  impeni- 
tent is  calculated  to  difplay  the  divine  holi- 
nefs  and  juflice  ;  is  fitted  to  their  character, 
and  to  excite  dread.  The  reward  promifed 
to  the  righteous,  correfponds  only  with  the 
temper  of  thofe  whofe  hearts  are  united  with 
the  God  of  love. 

The  piety  and  virtue  inculcated  in  the 
oracles  of  truth,  breathe  a  fpirit  to  which 
the  proud  and  felfilh  hearts  of  m^ankind  are 
wholly  oppofed.  Love  to  God  and  man  is 
the  root  of  the  graces  and  virtues,  which 
compofe  the  character  that  meets  the  appro- 
bation of  the  infinite  mind. 


87 

The  man  whofe  piety  Is  evangelical, 
makes  an  unfeigned  dedication  of  himfelfto 
God  ;  and  the  feelings  of  his  heart,  fo  far  as 
he  is  fanctified,  fully  harmonize  with  the  di- 
vine law  and  government.  He  approaches 
his  heavenly  Father  with  filial  reverence, 
and  can,  without  referve,  adopt  the  form  of 
prayer  that  Chrift  taught  his  difciples ; 
'^  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed 
*'  be  thy  name  :  Thy  kingdom  come  :  Thy 
''  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 
*'  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  And 
*'  forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our 
"  debtors.  And  lead  us  not  into  tempta- 
**  tion,  but  deliver  us  from  evil :  For  thine 
**  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the 
**  glory,  for  ever.  Amen.'*  This  prayer, 
as  one  obferves,  "  for  a  fucceflion  of  folemn 
**  thoughts,  for  fixing  the  attention  upon  a 
*'  few  great  points,  for  fuitablenefs  to  every 
*'  condition,  for  fufficiency,  for  concifenefs 
*'  without  obfcurity,  for  the  weight  and  real 
"  importance  of  its  petitions,  is  without  an 
*'  equal  or  a  rival."  The  pious  man  is 
humble  :  He  feels  his  abfolute  dependence 
on  God  for  good  of  every  kind.  He  mourns 
for  fm,  and  begs  for  pardon  through  Him 
who  died  that  fmners  might  live.  While  he 
avoids  exercifmg  himfelf  in  things  that  are 
too  high  for  him,  he  makes  it  his  ftudy  to 


88 


know  and  do  the  will  of  God — to  maintain 
fobriety — and  to  keep  alive  a  devotional  tem- 
per. Taught  that  he  is  not  his  own,  and 
that  he  is  under  the  wife,  holy  and  gracious 
dominion  of  the  fovereign  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  he  denies  himfelf,  he  endures  af- 
fiiclions  with  patience,  he  encounters  evils 
with  fortitude,  and  refigns  every  enjoyment 
to  Him  who  guides  the  faithful  through  this 
difciplinary  ftate.  Not  intimidated  by  the 
frowns,  nor  allured  by  the  flatteries  of  the 
world,  he,  by  divine  aid,  holds  on  his  courfc 
till  he  finifhes  it  with  joy.  He  daily  recounts 
in  his  clofet,  in  focial  prayer,  and  in  medi- 
tation, the  mercies  of  the  fupreme  benefac- 
tor, and  is  awakened  to  gratitude  and  praife. 
In  folitary  devotion  he  ihuns  the  notice  of 
mortals,  fhuts  the  door  on  the  noife  and  bu- 
fmefs  of  the  world,  and  prays  to  his  father 
who  is  in  fecret.  Modefl  and  unaffuming 
he  is  far  removed  from  the  oftentatious  pa- 
rade of  the  ancient  Pharifees  ;  who  profelfed 
religion  to  be  feen  of  men,  and  chofe  the 
corner  of  the  llreet,  to  attract  the  public  no- 
tice while  they  recited  their  forms  of  devo- 
tion. The  real  difciple  of  Jefus  Chrift  does 
not  think  highly  of  his  own  attainments  ; 
but  in  honor  prefers  his  fellow-chriftians  to 
himfelf.  Knowing  that  every  moral  adion 
begins  in  the  heart,  he  labors  to  keep  it  with 


89 

all  diligence,  and  is  incited  to  watchfulnefs. 
Being  a  conftant  witnefs  of  remaining  in- 
ward corruptions,  he  cenfures  himfelf  in 
thoufands  of  inflances  where  he  flands  ac- 
quitted in  the  eyes  of  mankind. 

Christianity  breathes  a  kind,  meek, 
and  forgiving  fpirit.  The  heartof  him  who 
is  under  its  influence  is  moved  at  the  cry  of 
diflrefs,  and  his  hand  is  open,  according  to 
his  ability,  to  fupply  the  wants  of  the  poor, 
and  to  alleviate  the  miferies  of  the  wretched. 
In  almfgiving  he  does  not  found  a  trumpet 
before  him,  but,  as  much  as  poflible,  difpen- 
fes  his  benefad:ions  in  fecret.  He  does  not 
indulge  envy,  maUce,  or  revenge  ;  but  drives 
to  overcome  evil  with  good.  He  is  not  un- 
der the  government  of  thofe  palFions  which 
chaftity  forbids,  but  looks  with  abhorrence 
upon  them  ;  as  unfitting  the  mind  for  pure 
enjoyment,  and  the  inlet  of  innumerable. e- 
vils  to  the  human  race.  In  his  intercourfe 
with  mankind,  he  is  jufl  in  his  dealings, faith- 
ful to  his  engagements,  and  the  fulfilment  of 
the  duties  of  his  particular  truft.  He  bears 
on  his  mind  and  heart  the  words  of  Chrift, 
in  Matthew  vii.  1 2.  Therefore  all  things  what- 
focver  yc  ivould  that  menflzoulddo  to  you^  do  ye 
cvcnfo  to  them  :  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
H  2 


90 

prophets »  The  fpirit  of  chriilian  virtue  tends 
to  the  difFufion  of  peace  and  happinefs  thro' 
families,  focieties,  and  the  great  brotherhood 
of  man.  How  far  do  the  moft  improved 
in  the  family  of  Chrift  on  the  earth,  fall  fhort 
of  the  pattern  exhibited  by  his  doclrine  and 
example  i  But  imperfect  as  his  follov^^ers  are, 
the  internal  beauty  of  the  gofpel  remains  ; 
and  its  influences  upon  them  fpeak  in  its 
praife.  It  is  a  part  of  its  peculiar  glory,  to 
train  up  men  from  fmall  beginnings  of  holi- 
nefs  to  a  Hate  of  perfect  purity  and  joy. 

In  a  review  of  the  argument  in  fupport  of 
the  infpiration  of  the  Bible  from  the  reli- 
gion it  contains,  it  is  natural  to  inquire 
whence  came  fuch  a  fcheme  of  faith  and 
practice  ?  Where  did  Mofes  and  the  Ifrael- 
ites  get  fuch  ideas  of  Deity  as  are  exhibited 
in  the  Old  Teflament  ?  They  did  not  derive 
them  from  Egypt ;  for  that  kingdom  was 
overrun  with  idolatry  during  their  abode  in 
it.  They  could  not  acquire  their  theology 
from  any  of  the  nations  that  bordered  on 
Egypt,  or  Canaan,  or  from  any  other  then 
on  the  earth  ;  for  they  were  all  involved  in 
the  darknefs  of  paganifm,  and  remained  in 
that  flate  until  the  days  of  the  Apoflles. 
Hence,  the  facred  writers  who  followed  Mo- 
fes could  not  have  been  enlightened  in  the 


91 

knowledge  and  worfhip  of  the  one  living  and 
true  God,  by  any  men  on  the  earth.  It  is 
well  known  that  the  heathens  hold  to  a  vaft 
number  of  gods.  Athens — learned  and  po- 
lite Athens,  is  faid  to  have  acknowledged 
deities  to  the  number  of  thirty  thoufand. 
The  objeds  to  which  pagans  have  paid  di- 
vine homage,  were,  many  of  them  fabricated 
by  art ;  and  to  all  their  gods  have  been  attri- 
buted fenfual  appetites,  and  pairions,or  affec- 
tions, unworthy  of  divinity.  They  are  rep- 
refented  by  thofe  who  adore  them,  as  enga- 
ged in  the  amours  of  the  libidinous,  and  as 
parties  in  the  quarrels  of  proud  and  mali- 
cious men.  Many  of  the  heathen  rituals 
enjoined  the  offering  of  human  facrifices  ; 
and  others  encouraged  drunkennefs,  ob- 
fcenity,  and  whoredom.  Some  of  the  wifer 
men  among  the  pagans  have  confeffed  the 
need  of  a  fupernatural  revelation,  to  teach 
mankind  how  to  worfhip  the  Deity  aright. 
Modern  infidels  have  gloried  in  the  wifdom 
of  a  heathen  Socrates.  He  was  indeed  one 
of  the  mofl  deferving  characters  that  can  be 
found  in  the  annals  of  pagan  antiquity* 
This  renowned  philofopher,  "  meeting  Al- 
*'  cibiades,  who  was  going  to  the  temple  to 
''  pray,  proves  to  him  that  he  knew  not  how 
"  to  perform  that  duty  aright,  and  that 
"  therefore  it  was  not  fafc  for  him  to  do 


92 

*'  it ;  but  that  he  fhould  wait  for  a  divine 
"  inflrudlor  to  teach  him  how  to  behave 
"  both  tovi^ards  the  gods  and  men ;  and  that 
*'  it  vi-as  neceflary  that  God  fhould  fcatter 
^'  the  darknefs  which  covered  his  foul,  that 
*'  he  might  be  put  in  a  condition  to  dif- 
"  cern  good  and  evil."*  Were  Socrates  a- 
gain  to  appear  in  the  world,  with  his  for- 
mer belief,  he  would  difown  thofe  as  his  dif- 
ciples,  who  boaft  of  his  knowledge,  as  a 
proof  of  the  fufficiency  of  human  reafon  to 
dired  mankind  in  the  duties  of  piety  and  be- 
nevolence. But  to  return,  I  further  afk, 
whence  came  the  do6lrine  of  the  atone- 
ment, of  the  refurreclion,  and  of  the  future 
ftate  of  rewards  and  punifhments,  as  contain- 
ed in  the  fcriptures  ?  Who  communicated 
the  piety  and  virtue  which  are  defcribed  and 
recommended  in  thefe  writings  ?  No  one 
who  is  acquainted  wdth  the  pagan  theology, 
can,  with  the  lead  colour  of  reafon,  pretend 
that  the  religion  of  the  Bible  was  copied 
from  the  religion  of  idolaters.  Does  the 
fpirit  of  the  book,  whofe  divine  original  I 
am  endeavoring  to  maintain,  carry  the  air 
of  human  invention  ?  Good  men  would  not 
impofe  a  forgery    on  the  world  for  truth. 


*  Leland's  View  of    dciilical  "writers,  in   s  vol.  page 
Xith  ot  vol.  L 


93 

Bad  men  could  not  have  a  fingle  motive  to 
prompt  them  to  devife  fuch  a  fcheme  of 
faith  and  practice  :  For  had  they  knowledge 
equal  to  the  taik,  they  would  not  have  em- 
ployed it  in  the  eftablifhment  of  a  plan, 
which  expofes  and  condemns  them  in  its 
whole  defign.  The  drift  of  all  the  facred 
books  from  Genefis  to  the  Revelation  of 
John,  is  diredlly  in  the  face  of  fraud  and  ev- 
ery fpecies  of  iniquity,  both  public  and  pri- 
vate. Befides,  the  humble,  pious,  and  dif- 
interefled,  fpirit  of  the  gofpel,  has  not  one 
charm  to  the  unholy  and  the  felfifh.  To 
admit  that  fuch  charadlers  as  thefe  lad 
would  invent  fuch  a  religion,  if  competent 
in  point  of  ability,  would  be  as  abfurd  as  to 
grant,  that  a  malicious  man  will  dired:  ev- 
ery effort  to  promote  the  good  of  the  one  he 
inveterately  hates,  or  that  a  felfifh  man  will 
a6l  from  difmterefled  motives,  or  that  a  cov- 
etous man  will  make  it  his  whole  aim  to  be 
liberal. 

There  is  no  anfwer  to  be  given  to  the 
queftion,  whence  came  the  religion  contain- 
ed in  the  Bible  ?  that  can  fatisfy  a  candid 
refle^ling  mind,  but  this,  it  came  from 
God  !  And  therefore  the  men  who  announ- 
ced it  to  the  world,  fpake  as  they  v/qvq 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghoft. 


::^o<:::-=::::=<;::<:x><x:k>::>cx>c<:::0<x><>d<?<><xx><:::<x 


DISCOURSE    IV. 

Objedions  raifed  againft  the  commands  for 
borrowing  of  the  Egyptians,  and  the  ex- 
tirpation of  the  Canaanites,  anfwered  ; 
and  the  evidence  of  Miracles  confidered. 


2   TIMOTHY   iii.    1 6. 

Allfcripture  is  given  by  infpiration  ofGod^  and 
is  profitable  for  dodrine^  for  reproof  for  cor^ 
redien^for  inftru6lion  in  right coiijhefs. 

IN  the  conclufion  of  the  lail:  difcourfe,  was 
introduced  an  argument  in  fupport  of 
the  infpiration  of  the  Bible,  taken  from  the 
nature  of  the  religion  it  contains.  Againil 
its  pure  and  benevolent  nature  feveral  ob- 
jections have  been  brought.  I  fhall,  in  this 
place,  attend  to  two,  raifed  againlt  the  mo- 
rality of  certain  parts  of  the  Old  Teflament, 
which  are  delivered  under  the  fandlion  of  a 
divine  precept.     The  difficulties  I  have  ia 


View,  are  thofe  which  have  been  ftarted  from 
the  commands  which  Jehovah  gave  to  the 
children  of  Ifrael,  to  borrow  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, and  to  cut  off  the  Canaanites. 

The  firftof  thefeinjun6tions  isrecordedin 
Exodus  xi.  2.  Speak  now  in  the  ears  of  the 
people^  and  let  every  man  borrow  of  his  neigh- 
bor^ atid  every  woman  of  her  neighbor^  jewels 
offilver^  and  jewels  of  gold.  The  IfraeUtes 
pradtifed  agreeably  to  the  direction  received, 
on  the  night  in  which  they  left  Egypt ;  as  we 
learn  from  Exodus  xii.  'TiS^  3^'  "  ^^^  ^^^ 
children  of  Ifrael  did  according  to  the  word 
of  Mofes  ;  and  they  borrowed  of  the  Egyp- 
tians jewels  of  filver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and 
raiment.  And  the  Lord  gave  the  people 
favor  in  the  fight  of  the  Egyptians,  fo  that 
they  lent  unto  them  fuch  things  as  they  re- 
quired ;  and  they  fpoiled  the  Egyptians." 
It  has  been  faid  that  this  conduct  is  not  re- 
concileable  with  truth  or  juftice,  and  there- 
fore God  could  not  authorize  it  as  Mofes 
declares  ;  and  that  by  certain  confequence 
it  mufl  follow,  that  the  book  which  contains 
the  licence  for  fuch  practice  cannot  be  given 
by  divine  infpiration.  To  remove  this  ob- 
jedion  it  may  be  obferved, 

I  ft.  That  the  Egyptians  had  long  held 
the  Ifraehtes  in  cruel  bondage,  and,  in  point 


97 

of  juftice,  owed  them  a  large  compenfation 
in  property,  for  their  fervice ;  and  to  a 
higher  amount  than  they  actually  received. 

2dly.  The  Hebrew  verb  rendered  borrow^ 
In  the  foregoing  paflages,  Hterally  fignifies 
to  ajk  ;  and  is  fo  tranflated  in  general.*  Ac- 
cording to  this  verfion  the  difficulty  is  at 
once  removed.  The  Ifraelites  had  certainly 
an  equitable  claim  on  the  Egyptians  their 
oppreflbrs  ;  and  on  that  ground  might  aik 
of  them  precious  jewels  and  raiment. 

3dly.  The  difficulty  does  not  appear  in- 
furmountable,  if  we  allow  the  word  borrow 
to  fland,  as  in  the  Bible  which  we  have  in 
our  hands.  The  Ifraelites  were  not  holden, 
by  any  engagement  of  theirs  to  return  the 
loan,  until  they  fhould  reach  Mount  Sinai, 
where  they  were  to  worfhip  Jehovah  their 
deliverer.  But  previoufly  to  their  arrival  at 
that  place,  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft  purfued 
them  with  a  hoflile  defign.  The  Lord  in- 
terpofed  and  cut  off  the  king  with  his  army, 
by  drowning  them  in  the  red  fea.  The  If. 
raelites  could  be  juftified  in  retaining  the 
jewels  and  the  raiment  in  their  poffeffion,  as 
the  property  of  a  public  enemy.     Under  the 

*  Gen.  xxxii.  29.  Deut.  iv.  32.  xxxii.  7.  Jofhua  iv.  6. 
fudges  xviii.  5.  i  Sam.  xii.  19.  Pfalm  ii.  8.  Haiali  ?ii.  ix. 
I 


cxifting  circumllances,  what  they  firfl:  re- 
ceived in  a  way  of  loan,  became  fpoil,  and 
hence  their  obligation  to  return  it  ceafed. 

4thly.  Since  the  earth  is  the  Lord's  and 
the  fulnefs  thereof,  he  may  transfer  his  gifts, 
in  an  extraordinary,  as  well  as  in  an  ordina- 
ry,  manner,  if  he  pleafe.     The  plagues  in- 
ilided  on  the  Egyptians  in  their  own  coun- 
try, and  their  overthrow  at  the  red  fea,  fer- 
ved  as   fo  many  miraculous  atteflations   in 
fupport  of  the  equitable  claim  of  the  people 
whom  they  had  fo  long  opprefled,  upon  their 
goods  ;  and    authorized  the  redeemed  na- 
tion in  holding  the  jewels  and  the  raiment, 
which  had  been  put  into  their  hands.    None 
can  juftly  plead  the  cafe  we  have  been  con- 
fidering  as    a  precedent   to    redrefs  their 
wrongs  in   the  fame  way,  unlefs  they  can 
produce  miracles  in  their  juftification,  as 
convincing  as  thofe  that  were  wrought  for 
the  deliverance  of  the  Ifraelites  from  their 
Egyptian    bondage.      The  Lord   brought 
them  forth  with  a  mighty  hand,  and  with  an 
out/lretched  arm,   and  with  great  terrible- 
nefs,  and  with  figns,  and  with  wonders. 
The  wrath  of  Jehovah  was  awfully  difplay- 
ed  in  the  punifhment  of  the  Egyptians.    Ru- 
in was  fpread  over  the  face  of  their  land, 
mourning  for  the  death  of  their  firlt-born 


99 

was  heard  from  every  houfe,  and  they  were 
fpoiled  of  their  choicefl  treafures.  The  Lord 
brought  forth  his  people  "  with  filver  and 
gold  y  and  there  was  not  one  feeble  perfon 
among  their  tribes.  Egypt  was  glad  when 
they  departed  j  for  the  fear  of  them  fell  up- 
on them." 

I  PROCEED  to  confider  the  difficulty  ari- 
fmg  from  the  command  which  Jehovah  gave 
to  the  children  of  Ifrael,  to  deflroy  the  in- 
habitants of  Canaan.  This  objeQion  has 
been  accounted  the  mod  fpecious  of  any  that 
has  been  brought  againft  the  divine  origin- 
al of  the  Bible ;  and  has  been  much  infifted 
on  by  deiils.  They  have  confidently  af- 
firmed, that  the  Ifraelites  could  have  no  jufl 
authority  to  go  into  Canaan,  cut  off  its  in- 
habitants by  the  fword,  and  take  poffeflion 
of  their  country  ;  and  that  if  it  be  admitted 
that  the  Ifraelites  had  righreoufnefs  on  their 
fide,  in  thus  treating  a  people  at  peace  with 
them,  it  will  follow  that  any  nation  may  de- 
prive another  of  all  that  is  dear  to  them  as 
men,  without  violating  the  law  of  benevo- 
lence. The  enemies  of  divine  revelation 
have  alfo  dwelt  much  on  the  command  for 
the  total  excifion  of  the  Canaanites,  without 
refped  to  age  or  fex,  as  breathing  a  fpirit  of 
cruelty,  and   therefore  unworthy  of  God. 


lOO 


!  have  been  the  more  careful  in  calling  up 
this  objedion  in  its  full  ftrength,  becaufe  of 
the  temporary  embarraflment  it  has  occa- 
iioned  in  fo  many  minds,  when  they  have 
begun  to  inquire  into  the  authority  of  the 
fcriptures.  To  affifl  in  removing  the  diffi- 
culty, let  the  following  things  be  confidered. 

I  ft.  The  chara£ler  of  the  Canaanitcs, 
whom  the  childrenof  Ifrael  were  command- 
ed to  deftroy.  From  the  account  given  of 
them  in  facred  hiftory,  it  appears  that  they 
were  grofs  idolaters,  and  were  addided  to 
vices  of  the  moft  enormous  kind.  They 
confulted  with  familiar  fpirits,  and  pradifed 
the  arts  of  forcery  and  witchcraft.  There 
was  not  a  crime  that  agreed  with  their  un- 
bridled hifts,  which  they  did  not  fandion  by 
their  idolatrous  rites.  Eveji  their  fons  and 
their  daughters  they  burnt  in  the  f  re  to  their 
gods.  They  lived  in  the  open  indulgence  of 
fornication,  inceft,  and  the  fm  of  Sodom. 
They  even  defiled  themfelves  with  the  beafts 
of  the  field.  Hence  Jehovah  gave  the  fol- 
lowing prohibitory  precept  to  the  Ifraelites, 
*'  Defile  not  yourfelves  in  any  of  thefe 
things  ;  for  in  all  thefe  the  nations  are  de- 
filed which  I  caft  out  before  you.  And  the 
land  is  defiled  :  therefore  I  do  vifit  the  ini- 
quity thereof  upon  it,  and  the  land  itfelf 


XOI 


Tomitteth  out  her  inhabitants.***  I  know 
not  whether  it  be  poflible  to  reprefent  a  na- 
tion in  a  more  odious  Hght,  than  by  the  fig- 
ure of  their  land  vomitting  them  out^  as  too 
loathfome  to  endure  on  its  furface. 

2dly.  It  is  evident  from  the  national 
charader  of  the  Canaanites,  that  they  juflly 
deferved  deflru£lion  from  the  hand  of  God. 
His  purity  and  juflice  forbid  the  lading  prof- 
perity  of  a  nation  of  profligates.  The  Lord 
did  not  fuffer  the  Canaanites  to  be  deftroy- 
ed,  until  they  had  ripened  themfelves  for 
ruin  by  obflinate  wickednefs.  Near  five 
hundred  years  before  their  conqueft  by 
Jofhua,  when  God  renewed  the  promife  to 
Abraham,  that  his  feed  fhould  poflefs  their 
land,  he  declared  that  there  would  be  a  fuf- 
penfion  of  the  performance  until  feveral  fu- 
ture generations  were  pafled  away  ;  and  for 
the  following  reafon — The  iniquiiy  of  the  Am- 
orltes  is  not  yet  fulL\  The  righteous  Lord 
did  not  fuffer  them  to  be  cut  off  till  their 
fins  had  long  cried  aloud  for  vengeance. 
Hence,  he  cautions  his  people,  as  in  Deut.ix. 
4.  "  Speak  not  thou  in  thine  heart,  after  that 
the  Lord  thy  God  hath  cafl  them  out  from 
before  thee,   faying.  For  my  righteoufnefs 

^  Deut.  xviii.  12.  Lev.  xvlii.        f  Gen.  xv.  160 
I    2 


I03. 


the  Lord  hath  brought  me  In  to  poflefs  this 
land  ;  but  for  the  wjckednefs  of  thefe  na- 
tions the  Lord  doth  drive  them  out  from 
before  thee." 

3dly.  If  the  Canaanites  juflly  deferved 
dellrudtion  from  the  hand  of  God,  it  muft 
belong  to  him  to  appoint  the  manner  of  in- 
fliding  it.  No  one  will  contend  but  that 
the  Lord  might  juflly  have  v^afted  them, 
both  old  and  young,  by  ficknefs,  or  famine, 
or  have  funk  them  by  an  earthquake ;  or 
have  deftroyed  them  by  evils  of  a  fimilar  na- 
ture. None  can  deny  that  towns  and  cities 
have  been  overthrown  in  fuch  ways,  invol- 
ving each  fex  and  every  age,  without  dif- 
crimination.  The  heart  that  murmurs  at 
the  providence  which  orders  fuch  events,  a$ 
being  neither  confident  with  rectitude  nor 
goodnefs,  is  aduated  by  the  fpirit  of  atheifm. 

As  the  execution  of  the  fentence  againfl 
the  wicked  lies  wholly  in  the  bread  of  the 
fupreme  Judge,  no  reafon  can  be  alTigned 
why  He  might  not  employ  the  arms  of  the 
Ifraelites,  in  cutting  off  the  ancient  inhabit- 
ants of  Canaan.  Intelligent  creatures  are 
as  fully  under  his  diredion  and  control 
as  the  materia!  world.  Befides,  when  the 
former  are  ufed  as  the  indruments  in  pun- 
iftiing,  the  tokens  of  the  divine  wrath  are 


I03        . 

tonfidered  as  more  explicit  and  dreadful 
than  when  evils  come  through  other  chan- 
nels. When  David  was  directed  to  choofe 
out  of  war,  famine,  or  peftilence,  the  fcourge 
to  chaftife  him  for  his  fm  in  numbering  If- 
rael,  he  prayed  that  he  might  not  fall  into 
the  hand  of  man, 

4thly.  That  the  Ifraelites  were  commit 
fioned  by  Jehovah  to  deflroy  the  Canaanites, 
is  manifefl:  from  their  hiflory,  after  their  de- 
parture from  Egypt  to  their  pafTmg  over 
Jordan.  The  divine  miraculous  interpofi- 
tions  in  their  behalf,  eflablifhes  their  com* 
million  beyond  all  reafonable  doubt  ;  when 
taken  in  connexion  with  the  promifes  God 
made  to  Abraham,  and  other  patriarchs  who 
defcended  from  him,  that  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan (hould  be  given  to  the  poflerity  of  Ja- 
cob for  an  inheritance.  From  the  words  of 
Rahab  the  harlot,  to  the  two  fpies  whom 
Jofliua  fent  to  Jericho,  it  appears  th?.t  the 
inhabitants  of  Cana^in  expecled  that  the  If- 
raelites would  conquer  and  polTefs  their 
country,  from  the  wonders  wrought  for  their 
defence  in  the  wildernefs.  Jofhua  ii.  9 — 1 1. 
*'  And  file  faid  unto  the  men,  I  know  that 
the  Lord  hath  given  you  the  land,  and  that 
your  terror  is  fallen  upon  us,  and  that  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  land  faint  becaufe  of 


1^4 

you.  For  we  have  heard  how  the  Lord 
dried  up  the  water  of  the  red  fea  for  you, 
when  ye  came  out  of  Egypt ;  and  what  ye 
did  unto  the  two  kings  of  the  Amorites  that 
were  on  the  other  fide  Jordan,  Sihon  and 
Og,  whom  ye  utterly  deflroyed.  And,  as 
foon  as  we  had  heard  thefe  things,  our  hearts 
did  melt,  neither  did  there  remain  any  more 
courage  in  any  man,  becaufe  of  you  :  for 
the  Lord  your  God,  he  is  God  in  heaven 
above,  and  in  earth  beneath. 

No  objedlion  can  remain  againft  the  man- 
ner of  deilroying  the  Canaanites,  after  can- 
didly attending  to  their  charadler  and  defert, 
the  right  of  the  fupreme  Judge  in  appoint- 
ing the  inftrum.ents  of  his  vengeance,  and 
the  full  proof  that  is  furniflied  in  fupport  of 
the  commiflion  given  to  the  Ifraelites,  to 
cut  offthofe  abandoned  nations,  and  to  plant 
themfelves  in  their  land. 

If  any  fhould  inquire  why  the  in  (lance 
we  have  been  confidering,  may  not  be  plead 
in  favor  of  the  Spaniards  in  deftroying  the 
aborigines  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  under  Cor- 
tez  and  Pizairo,  1  anfwer,  that  it  does  not 
appear  that  thofe  American  Lidians  were  e- 

gually  corrupt  wi'h  the  ancient  Canaanites  ; 
ut  on  the  fuppofition  that  they  were,  the 
Spaniards   never  had  an  immediate  grant 


I05 

from  the  fupreme  King,  of  the  countries 
they  invaded,  nor  had  they  a  divine  com- 
miriion  to  kill  or  enflave  the  inhabitants. 
Thofe  avaricious  Europeans  'Cpuld  not  pro- 
duce miraculous  evidence  in  iupport  of  their 
claim,  or  of  the  war  they  carried  on  to  ac- 
quire the  lands  and  the  gold  of  the  natives  ; 
therefore  they  were  guilty  of  robbery  and 
murder.  They  could  not  derive  the  leaft 
countenance  from  the  principles  that  juftify 
the  conquell:  of  Canaan  by  Jolhua. 

If  any  fhould  pretend  to  vindicate  the  ini- 
quitous traffic  in  the  human  fpecies,  that  has 
been  carried  on  for  three  hundred  years  paft, 
by  the  command  for  the  excifion  of  the  Ca- 
naanites,  let  them  fupport  their  caufe  by 
miracles  as  ftriking  as  thofe  that  were 
wrought  in  favor  of  the  children  of  Ifrael,  in 
the  days  of  Mofes  and  Jolhua.  Let  the  men 
who  are  exploring  the  coafls  of  Africa  in 
queft  of  ilaves,  open  a  paifage  to  go  on  dry 
ground  through  wide  and  deep  waters,  and 
arrefl  the  motions  of  our  planetary  fyftem, 
by  flretching  out  their  hands,  or  lifting  up 
their  voice — ^I  fay,  let  them  perform  thefe 
or  fmiilar  miracles  in  exprefs  fupport  of 
their  defign,  or  let  them  defifl  from  carry- 
ing mifery  and  wretchedncfs  to  thofe  fhores, 


io6 

as  they  would  avoid  the  guilt  of  man-fteal- 
ing,  and  of  fhedding  innocent  blood. 

In  the  deftrudion  of  the  Canaanites,  fol- 
emn  warnings  were  given  to  the  people  of 
Ifrael,  and  to  all  other  nations  to  whom 
the  fcriptures  are  known,  againft  idola- 
try and  vice.  Is  it  not  worthy  of  the  holi- 
nefs,  juflice  and  goodnefs  of  God  to  give 
fuch  warnings  to  mankind  ?  Did  he  not  dif- 
play  his  moral  perfedions  by  the  deluge, 
and  other  judgments  recorded  in  fcripture 
hiflory  ?  The  mind  of  Abraham  mufl  have 
been  deeply  imprefled  with  a  belief  in  the 
holy  majefty  of  Jehovah,  when  early  in  the 
morning  in  which  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
were  wTapped  in  flames,  he  beheld  the  fmoke 
of  the  country  going  up,  as  the  fmoke  of  a 
furnace.  The  Lord  will  make  ungodlv  na« 
tions  to  drink  the  cup  of  his  wrath.  Jere.xxv, 
31.  "A  noifc  fliall  come  even  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth :  for  the  Lord  hath  a  contro- 
verfy  with  the  nations ;  he  will  plead  with 
all  flelh  ;  he  will  give  them  that  are  wicked 
to  the  fword,  faith  the  Lord." 

Having  attempted  to  obviate  the  forego- 
ing objedions,  I  proceed  to  introduce  ^ifec- 
end  argument  in  fupport  of  the  infpiration 
of  the  Icripturcs,  taken  from  the  miracles 
which  they  narrate.     To  thefe,  appeals  have 


toy 

already  been  made,  but  their  nature  and  de- 
fign  deferve  a  more  particular  confidera- 
tion  ;  as  well  as  the  principal  periods  of  fa- 
cred  hiflory  in  which  they  were  wrought. 

A  MIRACLE  is  an  event  contrary  to  the 
laws  of  nature,  or  the  dated  courfe  of  di- 
vine operation,  and  is  addrefled  to  the  exter- 
nal fenfes  of  mankind.  A  miracle  is  as  per- 
fedly  within  the  reach  of  omnipotence,  or 
is  wrought  with  the  fame  eafe,  as  any  other 
thing  that  is  brought  into  exiflence.  Should 
the  Almighty  now  command  the  fun  to  rife 
in  the  weft  inftead  of  the  eaft,  the  event 
would  be  miraculous,  becaufe  it  is  contrary 
to  what  are  denominated  the  laws  of  na- 
ture. If  water  were  to  afcend  a  cataract,  it 
would  be  a  reverfion  of  its  common  courfe, 
and  therefore  a  miracle.  The  miracles  re- 
corded in  the  fcriptures,  were  perceived  by 
thofe  who  were  prefent  when  they  were  per- 
formed, through  the  medium  of  their  bodily 
organs.  Thus,  the  appearances  and  the 
voice  at  Mount  Sinai,  when  the  law  was  giv- 
en, ftruck  the  fenfes  of  the  Ifraelites.  When 
Chrift  walked  on  the  fea  of  Galilee,  his  dif- 
ciples  were  eye-witneifes.  No  train  of  rea- 
foning  is  neceflary  to  convince  the  fpedlators 
when  a  miracle  is  performed.  Its  fudden, 
extraordinary  nature  arrefts   the  attention. 


io8 


like  the  fir  ft  appearance  of  a  blazing  comet, 
or  the  noife  of  thunder. 

The  apparent  defign  of  miracles  is  to 
fummon  the  attention  of  mankind,  to  fome 
doclrine  or  duty,  revealed  or  enjoined  by  Je- 
hovah ;  and  at  the  fame  time  to  prove  that 
the  perfons  who  deliver  the  truths  or  the 
Jaws,  are  commiilioned  by  him.  When 
God  fends  melTengers  with  fuch  credentials, 
their  melTage  is  clothed  with  his  authority, 
and  demands  our  faith  and  obedience.  Mir- 
acles, though  moft  ftriking  to  thofe  who 
were  prefent  when  they  were  wrought,  may 
be  fo  well  attefted,  as  to  anfvver  the  fame 
general  purpofes  to  others  down  to  the  end 
of  the  world.  They  were  of  high  and  abfo- 
lute  importance  in  the  eflablifhment  of  the 
Jewifh  and  Chriftian  difpenfations.  To  this 
general  defign  may  be  reduced  all  the  mira- 
cles recorded  in  the  Old  Teflament,  and  in 
the  New, 

We  have  no  reafon  to  exped  the  renei 
of  miracles  ;  becaufe  the  canon  of  fcripture 
has  long  fmce  been  clofed.  The  precife  pe- 
riod in  which  miracles  ceafed,  I  pretend  not 
to  determine  :  But  we  have  no  evidence 
that  they  were  continued  beyond  the  infan- 
cy of  the  chriflian  church. 


1 


ie9 

Let  us  attend  to  fome  of  the  miracles 
wrought  by  Mofes.  While  he  was  in  exile 
in  the  land  of  Midian,  where  he  continued 
forty  years,  he  led  his  flock  to  the  back-fide 
of  the  defer t,  and  came  to  the  mountain  of 
God,  even  to  Horeb.  To  this  humble  fhep- 
herd  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  appeared,  in  a 
flame  of  fire,  out  of  the  midfl  of  a  buflij 
and  he  looked,  and,,  behold,  the  bufli  burn- 
ed with  fire,  and  was  not  confumed.  As 
he  turned  alide  to  fee  this  great  fight,  Jeho- 
vah called  to  him  out  of  the  midii  of  the 
bufli,  and  commanded  him  to  go  down  into 
Egypt,  to  deliver  the  children  oflfrael  from 
their  cruel  bondage,  and  to  condud  them 
unto  the  good  land  that  he  had  promifed  to 
give  them.  Mofes  difcovered  great  reluc- 
tance, at  firfl,  in  entering  on  the  work  afllgn- 
ed  him  ;  and  urged  that  his  nation  would 
not  believe  him,  but  would  fay,  "  The 
Lord  hath  not  appeared  unto  thee."  Je- 
hovah direded  him  to  call  the  rod  in  his 
hand  on  the  ground.  He  obeyed  j  it  be- 
came a  ferpent  ;  and  he  fled  from  before  it. 
By  the  fame  authority,  he  caught  it  by  the 
tail,  and  it  again  became  a  rod  in  his  hand. 
He  was  next  commanded  to  put  his  hand  in- 
to his  bofo.in ;  and  when  he  took  it  out  it 
was  leprous  as  fnow.  He  was  ordered  to  put 
K 


no 


his  hand  into  his  bofoin  again  ;  and  on  his 
plucking  it  out  the  fecond  time,  it  was  cur- 
ed, and  refumed  the  fame  appearance  with 
his  other  flefli.      Convinced  by  theJe   two 
figns,  as  well  as  by  other  things,  of  his  duty 
to  undertake  in  the  arduous  work  of  deliver- 
ing Ifrael  from  bondage,  he  with  Aaron  his 
brother,  went  down  into  Egypt,  in  obedience 
to  the  divine  command.      It   appears  from 
the  hiftory  recorded  in  Exodus,  that  Mofes,' ' 
after  his  long  exile,  had  given  up  the  ex- 
pedation  which  he  had  entertained  forty 
years  before,  of  delivering  the  Ifraelites,  and 
that  they  were  looking  out  for  no  fuch  thing. 
This  greatly   ftrengthens   the  credibility  of 
the  llory.     On  the  refufal  of  Pharaoh  to  re- 
leafe  the  Ifraelites  from  bondage,  according 
to  the  demand  which  Jehovah  direded  Mo- 
fes to  make,  Aaron  call  down  the  rod,  which 
had  undergone  miraculous  changes  at  Ho- 
reb,  and   it  became  a  ferpent,  in  prefence 
of  the  Egyptian  monarch  and  his  miniflcrs. 
Other  miracles  were    afterwards  wrought  ; 
in  turning  the  waters  of  Egypt  into  blood, 
in  filling   the  land  with  frogs,    and  with 
fwarms  of  flies,  in  the  plagues  of  the  hail, 
and  the  locufts,  in  bringing  on  a  thick  dark- 
nels  over  the  land  of  three  days  continuance, 
and  to  Rame  no  more,  in  the  death  of  the 
firfl  born,  both  of  man  and  bead,  through-     ; 


Ill 


out  the  realm,  in  one  night.  Thefe  mira- 
cles, in  connexion  with  thofe  afterwards 
performed  at  the  red  fea,  at  Mount  Sinai, 
and  other  places,  until  the  chofen  people 
were  put  in  poflefTion  of  the  land  of  prom- 
ife,  abundantly  eflablifh  the  infpiration  of 
the  Old  Telfament.  Additional  proofs  of 
the  fame  kind  v/ere  afforded,  from  the  con- 
quefl  of  Canaan  till  the  days  of  the  prophet 
Daniel.  When  Mofes,  a-  little  before  his 
death,  was  exhorting  the  children  of  Krael 
to  keep  the  ftatutes  and  commandments  of 
the  Lord,  he  reminded  them  of  the  extraor- 
dinary manner  in  which  God  had  redeemed 
them  from  Egypt,  and  revealed  his  will,  as 
high  motives  for  their  obedience.  He  ap- 
pealed to  the  figns  and  wonders  which  had 
been  fhown  and  wrought  before  their  nation, 
in  proof  that  their  Almighty  Redeemer  was 
the  only  true  God,  and  that  their  rehgion 
was  from  him.  Deut.  iv.  32 — 40.  "For 
"  afk  now  of  the  days  that  are  paft,  which 
"  were  before  thee,  fince  the  day  that  God 
"  created  man  upon  the  earth  ;  and  alk 
"  from  the  one  fide  of  heaven  unto  the  oth- 
"  er,  whether  there  hath  been  any  fuch' 
"  thing  a?  this  great  thing  isy  or  hath  been 
''  heard  like  it  ?  Did  ever  people  hear  the 
'*  voice  of  God  fpeaking  out  of  the  midfl 
*'  of  the  fire,  as  thou  hail  heard,  and  live  ? 


II« 


<c 


Or  hath  God  affayed  to  go  and  take  him 
a  nation  from  ihe  niidf^  of  another  nation, 
by  tcxiptations,  by  figns,  and  by  won- 
ders, and  by  war,  and  by  a  mighty  hand, 
and  by  a  (Iretched-out  arm,  and  by  great 
terrors,  according  to  all  that  the  Lord 
your  God  did  for  you  in  Egypt  before 
your  eyes  ?  Unto  thee  it  was  fhewed,  that 
thou  mightefl  know  that  the  Lord  he  is 
God  ;  there  is  none  elfe  befides  him* 
Out  of  heaven  he  made  thee  to  hear  his 
voice,  that  he  might  inftrudt  thee :  and 
upon  earth  he  fliewed  thee  his  great  fire, 
and  thou  heardeft  his  words  out  of  the 
midfl:  of  the  fire.  And  becaufe  he  loved 
thy  fathers,  therefore  he  chofe  their  feed 
after  them,  and  brought  thee  out  in  his 
*'  fight  with  his  mighty  power  out  of  Egypt; 
*'  to  drive  out  nations  from  before  thee, 
"  greater  and  mightier  than  thou  art,  to 
*^  bring  thee  in,  to  give  thee  their  land  for 
''  an  inheritance,  as  it  is  this  day.  Know, 
*'  therefore,  this  day,  and  confider  it  in  thins 
"  heart,  that  the  Lord  he  is  God  in  heaven 
*'  above,  and  upon  the  earth  beneath  :  there 
"is  none  elfe.  Thou  (halt  keep,  therefore, 
"  hisflatutes,and  his  commandments,  which 
"  I  command^  thee  this  day,  that  it  may  go 
"  well  with  thee,  and  with  thy  children  after 
*^  thee,  and  that  thou  mayefl  prolong  thy 


cc 


iC 


113 

•*  days  upon  the  earth,  which  the  Lord  thy 
**  God  giveth  thee,  forever/' 

Whether  the  magicians,  mentioned  in 
Exod.  vii.  and  viii.  performed  real  miracles, 
is  a  queflion  which  has  often  been  brought 
up  in  attending  to  the  miracles  of  Mofes  ; 
and  has  been  differcntiy  anfwered  by  divines 
of  high  reputation  in  the  Chriflian   Church. 

Those  who  adopt  the  affirmative  fide  of 
the  foregoing  queflion,  admit  that  the  evi- 
dence is  eventually  full  and  decifive  in  fup- 
port  of  the  divine  miffion  of  Mofes  ;  be- 
caufe  that  the  magicians  were  early  con- 
founded in  their  contelt  with  him,  and  were 
brought  to  confefs  that  Mofes  was  furnifhed 
with  divine  afTiflance.  My  limits  will  not 
permit  me  to  enter  largely  into  this  fubje^t ; 
I  fhall  only  fugged  a  few  reafons  agahiil 
the  hypothefis,  that  the  magicians  perfor- 
med real  miracles. 

ill.  If  real  miracles  are  admitted  to  be 
wrought  on  the  fide  of  thole  who  are  enga- 
ged  for  the  fupport  of  error  and  wickednefs, 
as  the  fuppofed  miracles  of  the  magicians  in 
Egypt  were,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  Ihow 
how  miracles  do  in  any  cafe  confirm  the  di- 
Tiae  million  of  any  perfon,  or  the  divine  au- 
K  2 


I 


114 

thority  of  any  fcheme  of  religion.  Nicode- 
mus,  in  the  third  chapter  of  John,  appears 
to  have  fpoken  not  only  according  to  the  be- 
lief of  the  Jews,  but  agreeably  to  the  diftates 
of  the  human  mind,  when  he  faid  to  Chrifl, 
We  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God  ; 
for  no  ?nan  can  do  thcfe  miracles  that  thou  doejl 
except  God  be  with  him. 

2dly.  Moses  difcovers  no  marks  of  dif- 
couragement  from  any  thing  that  the'  magi- 
cians are  fuppofed  to  have  done,  in  turning 
their  rods  into  ferpents,  water  into  blood,  or 
in  bringing  up  frogs  upon  the  land.  But 
confidering  his  very  great  diffidence  in  un- 
dertaking the  arduous  work  to  which  he  was 
called  while  in  Midian,  would  he  not  have 
been  greatly  agitated,  and  have  been  ready 
to  defpond,  if  he  had  believed  that  the  ma- 
gicians were  pofleiled  of  a  power  to  do  mir- 
acles ?  ■  How  would  he  have  relied  on  the 
fign  of  changing  his  rod  into  a  ferpent,  as  a 
proof  of  his  divine  commiffion,  as  the  Lord 
had  told  him,  if  the  magicians  could  alfo 
turn  their  rods  into  ferpents  ? 

3dly.  Whatever  the  magicians  did, they 
never  went  firll  in  performing  any  wonder; 
but  they  in  their  operations  ^IwdJ^s  followed 
Moles.  It  is  certainly  much  eafier  to  imi- 
tate than  to  take  the  lead,  in  any  thing  either 


great  or  rare.  Men  who  compofed  an  order 
of  fuch  antiquity  and  repute  among  the 
heathens,  as  were  the  magicians,  mufl  have 
acquired  a  dexterity  in  their  art,  which  far 
furpafles  any  thing  that  has  fallen  under  our 
notice. 

4thly.  It  plainly  appears  to  us,  even  at 
this  diflance  of  time  and  place  from  'the 
fcene  in  Pharaoh's  court,  that  in  two  of  the 
three  inftances  in  which  the  magicians  imi- 
tated Mofes,  they  wrought  on  a  much  linal- 
ler  fcale  than  he  did.  When  Aaron  itretch- 
ed  out  the  rod  over  the  waters  of  Egypt,  the 
Lord  caufed  their  llreams,  rivers,  ponds,  and 
all  their  pools  to  become  blood  ;  and  they 
remained  in  that  (late  feven  days.  The  1£- 
gyptians,  in  that  time  of  diftrefs,  opened 
wells  or  fprings  to  procure  water  to  drmk. 
The  magicians  could  have  but  a  fmall  quan- 
tity of  water  to  operate  upon.  At  the  in- 
flant  of  time  when  Mofes  did  his  miracle 
there  was  no  water  for  them  to  change,  fo 
much  as  in  velfels  of  wood  or  ilone.  They 
might  afterwards  by  their  art  caufe  the  wa- 
ter taken  from  a  newly  opened  fpring  or 
well,  to  aifume  the  appearance  of  blood.  It 
is  affirmed  by  fome  great  naturalnis  now 
living  that  a  imall  quantity  of  water  may  be 
made  to  appear  red  like  blood,  by  the  efiorts 


ri6 

of  art.  In  the  inftance  of  the  frogs  the  ma- 
gicians could  do  very  little  ;  becaul'e  Moles 
Had  before  caufed  them  to  go  up  from  the 
waters  of  Egypt,  and  to  cover  the  land. 

5thly.  Pharaoh  is  confidered  as  more 
criminal  for  not  letting  the  Ifraelites  depart 
from  their  bondage,  on  account  of  the  figns 
and  wonders  which  were  fhown  by  Mpfes 
and  Aaron,  even  while  the  magicians  imita- 
ted their  miracles.  As  a  proof  of  this  we 
need  only  advert  to  what  is  faid  concerning 
the  Egyptian  monarch,  that  he  hardened  his 
hearty  or  that  hh  heart  was  hardened.  If  the 
magicians  did  as  real  miracles  as  Mofes,  how 
could  Pharaoh's  guilt  have  been  increafed 
in  holding  the  children  of  Ifrael  in  flavery, 
againfl  the  light  refleded  upon  his  under- 
flanding  and  confcience  by  what  Mofes  did  ? 
"What  evidence  could  Pharaoh  coiled  from 
figns,  which  were  performed  by  thofe  who 
demxanded  the  releafe  of  the  oppreifed  peo- 
ple, if  his  wife  men  who  defigned  by  their 
wonderful  works  to  countenance  him  in  his 
conduct,  wrought  as  real  miracles  as  were 
performed  by  Mofes  and  Aaron  ?  If  it  fhould 
be  laid  that  the  miracles  performed  by  ihefe 
lail  exceeded  thofe  wrought  by  the  magi- 
cians, and  therefore  Pharaoh  was  the  mere 
criminal  in  refufing  to  let  Ifrael  go,  it  may 


117 

be  anfwered,  that  according  to  this  hypoth- 
efis,  therewas  divine  evidence  againll  divine 
evidence  ;  which  is  abfurd  and  contradido- 
ry.  Befides,  if  Mofes  exceeded  the  magi- 
cians for  the  prefcnt,  while  the  conteil  be- 
tween them  continued,  how  could  Pharaoh 
determine  before  the  trial  clofed,  that  the 
latter  would  not  in  a  future  inftance  get  the 
victory  over  the  former  ?  While  there  was 
room  to  doubt,  the  Egyptian  monarch  could 
not  be  blamed  for  waiting  the  iflue  of  the 
contefl ;  and  confequently  his  guilt  would 
not  have  been  increafed  by  the  miracles  of 
Mofes,  during  the  performance  of  counter 
miracles.  There  appears  to  be  no  way  to 
avoid  thefe  difficulties,  but  that  of  denying 
that  the  magicians  wrought  real  miracles. 

6thly.  Pharaoh  never  applied  to  the 
magicians  to  take  away  the  plagues  while 
they  imitated  Mofes  ;  but  in  every  inftance 
to  the  latter.  He  could  not  be  influenced  to 
this  condu6l  by  his  native  inclinatien  or  in- 
tereft.  How  can  this  behaviour  of  his  be 
accounted  for,  except  on  the  ground,  that 
he  was  compelled  to  believe  that  Mofes  only 
was  endowed  with  miraculous  powers  ? 

7thly.  The  magicians  are  exprefsly  faid, 
in  the  three  inftances  in  which  they  imitated 
Mofes,  to  have  wrought  with  their  inchant^ 


ii8 


menis.  The  original  word  rendered  tnchanU 
ments^  in  Exodus  vii.  and  viii.  is  derived  from 
a  verb  which  fignifies  to  hide^  or  conceal^  and 
the  plural  noun  derived  from  it,  fignifies  in- 
cantations^ or  char 7ns ^  oryr/g^/Z^zg-  tricks;  where- 
by true  appearances  are  covered,  and  falfe 
ones  are  impofed  on  the  eyes  of  the  fpedla- 
tors.  '  The  divine  law  forbids  the  ufe  of  this 
art ;  Levit.  xix.  26.  "Ye  (liall  not  eat  any 
thing  with  the  blood  ;  neither  jhall  ye  ufe  in- 
chaniment^  nor  obferve  times."  The  fer- 
vants  of  Jehovah  did  not  indulge  fuch  ope- 
rations. Even  Balaam,  when  he  found  him- 
felf  compelled  to  blefs  the  people  of  Ifrael, 
inflead  of  curfing  them  according  to  the 
wijJies  of  his  heart,  "  went  not  as  at  other 
times  tofeekfor  inchantme7itsJ^^  From  the 
ufe  of  inchantments  adopted  by  the  magi- 
cians in  Egypt,  it  may  be  fairly  concluded 
that  what  they  did,  was  performed  by  the 
exertion  of  their  art ;  and  that  therefore 
they  wrought  no  miracle. 

8thly.  When  the  magicians  failed  in 
their  attempt  to  bring  forth  hce  with  their 
inci  antments,  they  faid  unto  Pharaoh  This 
is  the  Jinger  of  God  ;  which  confeliion  implies 
that  vv^hat  they  had  done  before  was  effeded 
by  art.     It  is  to  be  obferved  that  the  magi- 

"*  Numb.  xxiv.  i. 


119 

cians  do  not  fay,  "  This  is  the  finger  of  the 
Lord^  or  Jchovab^^  in  whofe  name  Mofes 
did  his  miracles  ;  but  that,  "  This  is  the  fin- 
ger of  God'^  *  The  word  tranflared  Got/,  in 
this  palfage,  is  applicable  to  any  Deity  ;  as 
we  find  from  the  uie  of  it  in  the  Scriptures. 
It  miay  therefore  be  inferred,  that  the  niagi- 
cians  themfelves  acknowledged  that  there 
was  no  fpecial  interpofition  of  Deity  in  all 
which  they  had  done. 

If  the  foregoing  arguments  are  well  foun- 
ded, it  mud  appear  unneceflary  that  the  fa- 
cred  hiflorian  iliould  have  faid  in  a  formal 
manner,  that  the  magicians  in  Egypt  wrought 
no  real  miracle  ;  fmce  the  fame  idea  is  com- 
municated by  the  words  which  narrate  their 
operations — "  They  did  Jo  with  their  inchant^ 
nientsJ^ 

The  magicians,  and  kindred  orders  of 
men,  might  do  many  (Irange  and  marvellous 
things  in  the  days  of  Mofes,  and  they  may 
now  ;  but  we  fecm  not  to  have  any  evidence 
that  God  hath  ever  wrought  a  miracle  by 
their  hands.  When  Baal's  prophets  in  the 
time  of  Elijah  made  an  effort  to  call  down 
fire  irom  heaven  upon  their  altar,  they  were 
not  able  to  accomplifh  their  wiflies.  When 
the  exorcifls,  mentioned  in  Acts-  xix.  un- 
dertook to  call  out  evil  fpirits  by  invoking 


120 


the  name  of  Jefus,  in  connexion  with  their' 
art,  they  were  dreadfully  confounded  :  ver. 
15,  16.  "  And  the  evil  fpirit  anfwered  andf 
faid,  Jefus  I  know,  and  Paul  I  know ;  but 
who  are  ye  ?  And  the  man  in  whom  the  evil  1 
fpirit  was,   leaped  on  them,  and  overcame') 
them,  and  prevailed  againfl  them,  fo  that  >J 
they  fled  out  of  that  houfe  naked  and  wound-' 
ed."     Antichrifl  claims  the  power  of  work- 
ing miracles,  but  thofe  he  exhibits,  are  fil- 
led, in  fcripture,   lying  wonders  ;   not  only 
becaufe  they  are  defigned  to  eflablifh  herefy, 
but  becaufe  the  fa£ts    to  which  he  appeals 
are  not  of  the  miraculous  kind  :  as  will  fully 
appear  to  any  one  who  perufes  the  legends -1 
of  the   Romifh  church,  together  with  thCj 
writings  of  the  reformers. 

Having  attended  to  the  cafe  of  the  magi- 
cians,  which  is  the  moft  difficult  of  th< 
kind  recorded  in  the  Bible,  I  need  not  pay| 
particular  attention  to  that 'which  is  conH 
tained  in  i  Samuel  xxviii.  relative  to  the] 
refurrection  of  the  prophet  by  the  witch  ol 
Endor.  She  is  not  to  be  confidered  as  aj 
worker  of  miracles,  if  fome  perfon,  und< 
the  cover  ofthe  night  w^as  fubftituted  by  hei 
to  announce  to  Saul  his  deftiny.  This] 
would  be  wholly  the  effed  of  art.  Nor  c: 
Ihe  be  ranked  among  the  performers  of  mir* 


121 


acles,  if,  as  is  mod  probable,  Jehovah  inter- 
pofed  and  raifed  Samuel,  to  deliver  to  the 
wicked  king  of  Ifrael  his  doom.  It  is  I  think, 
obvious  from  the  hiftory,  that  while  the 
witch  was  about  to  practife  the  art  of  divina- 
tion, the  prophet  fuddenly  appeared.  If 
this  be  admitted  as  fad,  (lie  was  in  no  fenfe 
employed  as  an  inflrument  in  producing  the 
miracle. 

The  laft  miraculous  event  in  theoldTef- 
tament  hiftory  which  I  fliall  confider,  is  the 
one  that  was  performed  in  the  time  of  the 
prophet  Elijah:  Of  this  we  have  a  particu- 
lar account  in  i  Kings  xviii.  That  prophet 
lived  in  the  time  when  Ahab  reigned  over 
Ifrael  ;  a  prince  who  gave  himfelf  up  with 
Jezebel  his  wife,  to  idolatry  and  v/ickednefs, 
above  all  who  had  been  raifed  to  the  throne 
before  him.  A  drought  of  more  than  three 
years  continuance  was  fent  upon  the  land, 
for  the  wickednefs  of  the  king  and  his  peo- 
ple ;  and  was  followed  by  a  dreadful  famine. 
The  prophet  Elijah  was  commilTioned  by 
Jehovah  to  denounce  to  Ahab  the  withhold- 
ing of  the  dew  and  the  rain  during  that 
gloomy  period.  Near  its  clofe  he  came  out 
of  his  retirement  by  divine  command,  and 
went  boldly  to  meet  the  king,  who  had  been 


132 


feeking  to  find  the  place  where  the  prophet 
was  fhelteredjthat  he  might  put  him  to  death. 
**  And  it  came  to  pafs,  when  Ahab  faw 
Elijah,  that  Ahab  faid  unto  him,  art  thou  he 
that  troubleth  Ifrael  ?  And  he  anfwered, 
I  have  not  troubled  Ifrael,  but  thou  and  thy 
father*s  houfe,  in  that  ye  have  forfaken  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord,  and  thou  haft 
followed  Baalim.  Now,  therefore,  fend, 
and  gather  to  me  all  Ifrael  unto  mount  Car- 
mel,  and  the  prophets  of  Baal  four  hund- 
red and  fifty,  and  the  prophets  of  the  groves 
four  hundred,  which  eat  at  Jezebel's  table.'* 
Ahab  aflembled  the  people  and  the  prophets 
according  to  defire.  *'  And  Elijah  came 
unto  all  the  people,  and  faid,  how  long  halt 
ye  between  two  opinions,  if  the  Lord  be 
God,  follow  him  :  but  if  Baal,  then  follow 
him."  The  people  manifeiled  by  their  11- 
lence,  that  they  had  nothing  to  fay  againft 
fo  reafonable  a  propofal.  "  Then  faid  Eli- 
jah unto  the  people,  I,  even  I  only,  remain 
a  prophet  of  the  Lord  ;  but  Baal's  prophets 
are  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Let  them, 
therefore,  give  us  two  bullocks ;  and  let 
them  choofe  one  bullock  for  themfelves,  and - 
Cut  it  in  pieces,  and  lay  it  on  wood,  and  put 
no  fire  under  ;  and  I  will  drefs  the  other 
bullock,  and  lay  it  on  wood,  and  put  no  fire 
under.    And  call  ye  on  the  name  of  your 


123 

gods,  and  I  will  call  on  the  nam*e  of  the 
Lord  ;  and  the  god  that  anfwereth  by  fire, 
let  him  be  God.  And  all  the  people  an- 
fwered  and  faid  it  is  well  fpoken."  The 
prieils  of  Baal  took  the  bullock  which  they 
ehofe,  and  prepared  and  laid  it  on  their  altar. 
They  cried  to  their  god  from  morning  to 
evening,  but  there  was  neither  voice,  nor 
any  to  aniwer,  nor  any  that  regarded.  Eli- 
jah proceeded  to  repair  the  altar  of  the 
Lord  before  all  the  people.  He  made  a 
trench  about  it,  and  laid  on  the  wood  and 
the  bullock  in  order.  He  commanded  wa- 
ter to  be  poured  upon  the  burnt-facrifice 
and-the  wood  :  This  was  done  three  times. 
^'  And  the  water  ran  about  the  altar  ;  and 
he  filled  the  trench  alfo  with  water.  And 
it  came  to  pafs,  at  the  time  of  the  offering  of 
the  evening  lacrifice,  that  Elijah  the  prophet 
came  near,  and  faid.  Lord  God  of  Abra- 
ham, Ifaac,  and  of  Ifrael,  let  it  be  known 
this  day  that  thou  art  God  in  Ifrael,  and  that 
I  am  thy  fervant,  and  that  1  have  done  all 
thefe  things  at  thy  vv^ord.  Hear  me,  O 
Lord,  hear  me  ;  that  this  people  may  know 
that  thou  art  the  Lord  God,  and  tLl^i  thou 
haft  turned  their  heart  back  again."  The 
people  muft  have  waited  with  anxious  de^^re 
to  fee  the  iifue — the  controvcny  dw^■  ^, 
whether  Jehovah  or  Baal  be  thetru^  CL 


124 

The  fufpenfe  was  immediately  removed  after 
the  prayer  of  Elijah  was  clofed.  *'  The  fire  of 
the  Lord  fell,  andconfumed  the  burnt-fac- 
rifice,  and  the  wood,  and  the  ftones,  and  the 
diift,  and  licked  up  the  water  that  was  in 
the  trench."  The  people  felt  the  decifion 
of  the  controverfy — They  could  not  doubt 
for  a  moment.  "  They  fell  on  their  faces, 
and  they  faidj  the  Lord,  he  is  the  God  ! 
THE  Lord,  he  is  the  God  !"  In  this  in- 
ftance  we  behold  in  a  flriking  manner,  the 
proof  which  miracles  afford  that  Jehovah 
is  the  only  true  God,  and  that  mankind  are 
mider  the  highefl;  obhgations  to  worfhip  and 
obey  him,  as  required  in  his  word. 

I  PASS  to  the  confideration  of  fome  of  the 
miracles  recorded  in  the  New  Teftament. 

The  number  of  miracles  performed  by 
Jefus  Chrifl  was  much  greater  than  thofe 
which  were  done  by  Mofes,  or  Elijah,  or  a- 
ny  who  came  before  him.  He  went  about 
all  the  cities  and  villages  in  the  land  of  Ifrael, 
healing  every  ficknefs  and  difeafe.*  "  His 
fame  went  throughout  all  Syria  ;  and  they 
brought  unto  him  all  fick  people  that  were 
taken  with  divers  difeafes,  and  torments,  and 
thofe  which  were  poffelTed  v/ith  devils,  and 
thofe  which  were  lunatic,  and  thofe  that  had 

♦  Matth.  ix. 


125 

the  palfy  ;  and  he  healed  them/'t  He 
cured  perfons,  and  that  in  an  inftant,  who 
were  deaf,  and  blind,  and  dumb,  and  lame* 
They  immediately  recovered  their  hearing, 
their  fight,  their  fpeech,  and  the  ufe  of  their 
limbs  ;  and  remained  in  a  (late  of  recovery. 
He  removed  completely  at  once, "infirmities 
which  had  been  of  many  years  {landing. 
This  is  altogether  different  from  curing  by 
the  application  of  medicine  ;  which  is  very 
flow  in  its  progrefs  in  overcoming  chronic 
diforders.  Chrifl  reftored  foundnefs  to  the 
body,  as  well  as  regularity  to  the  mind,  by 
uttering  a  word.  Many  fuch  miracles  as 
the  foregoing  were  performed  in  a  public 
manner,  and  before  enemies.  He  fed  four 
thoufand  men,  befide  v/omen  and  children, 
with  feven  loaves  of  bread,  and  a  few  little 
fiflics  ;  and  feven  baflcets  of  fragments  re- 
mained. At  another  time  he  fed  about  five 
thoufand  men  with  five  loaves  and  two  fifh- 
es  ;  and  twelve  bafkets  of  fragments  remain- 
ed. He  filenced  the  tempefl  by  his  voice, 
and  he  walked  on  the  waves  of  the  fea.  He 
reftored  life  to  the  dead.  Three  inflances 
are  particularly  mentioned,  viz.  the  wid- 
ow's fon  at  Nain,  Jairus's  daughter  at  Ca- 
pernaum, and  Lazarus  at  Bethany.  Let  u« 
t  MuttJi.  iv.  24. 

L  2 


126 

beftow  our  attention  for  a  moment  on  thefc 
inftances. 

When  Jefus  approached  the  gate  of  the 
city  of,  Nain,  with  many  of  his  difciples  and 
much  people,  he  met  a  funeral  procelTion. 
A  croud  had  colleded  to  mourn  with  a  for- 
rowful  mother,  in  a  ftate  of  widowhood, 
whofe  only  fon  had  fallen  a  victim  to  death 
m  the  bloom  of  youth  :  the  corpfe  was  now 
moving  to  the  land  of  filence.  The  com- 
palTion  of  Jefus  was  tenderly  touched,  as  he 
beheld  the  flowing  tears  of  a  folitary  widow, 
mourning  for  her  only  fon.  "  He  faid  unto 
her,  weep  not.  And  he  came  and  touched  the 
bier ;  and  they  that  bare  him  flood  ftill."  The 
attention  of  the  throng  muft  have  been  fixed 
upon  this  ftranger— Their  eyes  and  their  ears 
were  open — ^What  doth  this  traveller  de- 
fign !  The  multitude  foon  heard  and  faw 
with  amazement — He  fpoke  with  an  audible 
voice.  Toting  man  I  I  fay  unto  thee^  Arlfe  ! 
"  And  he  that  was  dead  fat  up,  and  began 
to  fpeak.  And  he  delivered  him  to  his  moth- 
er." The  fpedators  felt  a  folemn  awe  ^ 
"  and  they  glorified  God,  faying,  that  a 
great  prophet  is  rifen  up  among  us  j  and, 
that  God  hath  vifited  his  people/'* 


•  Luke  Tii. 


127 

Jairus,  a  ruler  of  the  fynagogue,  had  one 
only  daugl^er,  about  twelve  years  of  age, 
who  lay  a  dying.  He  came  to  Jeius,  who 
was  then  furrounded  by  a  multitude,  and 
fell  at  his  feet,  and  with  all  the  didrefs  and 
anguifh  which  a  father  feels,  when  his  child 
appears  to  be  in  the  agonies  or  death,  be- 
fought  him  to  go  to  his  houfe  to  (lay  the 
departing  fpirit.  As  the  great  phyfician  did 
not  repair  to  the  place  fo  foon  as  requefted, 
word  was  foon  brought  him  that  the  maiden 
was  dead,  and  that  he  needed  not  make  the 
vifit  lately  requefled.  But  when  Jefus  heard 
it,  he  told  the  meflenger,  that  flie  fhould  be 
made  whole.  He  went  to  the  melancholy 
houfe,  and  found  the  family  weeping  and 
bewailing  their  dead  friend.  "  He  took  her 
by  the  hand,  and  called,  faying.  Maid  !  a- 
rl/e !  And  her  fpirit  came  again,  and  ihe 
arofe  ftraightway."* 

Lazarus  of  Bethany,  was  raifed  from 
the  dead  after  he  had  lain  in  the  grave  four 
days.  This  miracle  was  wrought  in  prefuice 
of  a  great  number  of  fpedators.  They 
heard  the  commanding  voice  of  the  S^n  ctf 
God,  Lazarus,  come  forth  !  They  faw  him 
coming  foith  from  the  grave.  Some  who 
were  prefent  believed  on  Jefus  as  the  prom* 

*  Liike  viii. 


12$ 

ifed  MefTiah  ;  but  others  went  their  ways  to 
the  Pharifees,  and  made  them  acquainted 
V/hh  the  miraculous  event.  Whereupon  the 
Jewifh  council  was  aiTembled ;  the  mem- 
bers of  which  faid  to  each  other  "  What  do 
We  ?  for  this  man  doeth  many  miracles.  If 
we  let  him'  thus  alone,  all  men  will  believe 
on  him  ;  and  the  Romans  Ihall  come  and 
take  away  both  our  place  and  nation. — ^From 
that  day  forth,  they  took  counfel  together 
for  to  put  him  to  death.'** 

The  refurreftion  of  Jefus  Chrifl,  is  a  mir- 
acle, which  taken  in  ail  its  circumflances, 
is  the  moil  remarkable  of  any  that  was  ever 
VTOUght  in  our  world,  and  furnifhes  the 
highefl  evidence  of  his  divine  miflion,  and 
that  the  gofpel  is  from  God.  Jefus  fhowed 
unto  his  difciples  while  he  was  purfuing  his 
public  miniftry,  that  he  mud  go  up  to  Jeru- 
falem,  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  men, 
fuffer  many  things  of  the  elders,  and  chief 
priefls  and  fcribes,  and  be  killed,  and  be 
railed  again  the  third  day.f 

Had  not  Jefus  Chrifl  rifen  from  the  dead, 
his  religion  mufl  have  early  perifhed.  Its 
fate  would  have  been  the  fam.e  with  that  of 
the  French  prophets,  a  fet  of  tnthufiafls  who 

*  John  xi.    t  Matth.  xvi.  a  i .    Mark  ix.  3 1 . 


129 

appeared  in  England  about  a  hundred  years 
ago.  Whei}  one  of  their  chiefs  lay  on  his 
death-bed,  and  was  adlually  expiring,  he 
told  his  followers  round  him  that  he  fhould 
rife  on  a  certain  day  and  hour;  and  that  if  he 
failed,  they  mufl  conclude  that  they  had  been 
deluded.  The  day  came — a  vaft  number 
of  people  affembled  round  the  grave — as 
the  hour  approached,  a  noted  partifan  lifted 
up  his  voice,  and  called  to  his  d^ceafed 
friend — Rife  !  Oh  rife  !  or  we  are  undone  ! 
But  the  clods  continued  to  cover  the  dead 
body,  and  the  delufion  was  deteded  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world.  If  Chrifl  had  not  rifen, 
as  he  predided,  his  caufe  would  have  funk. 
Saith  the  ApoHle  Paul  in  i  Cor.  xv.  If 
Chriji  be  not  r'lfen^  then  is  our  preaching  vain, 
and  your  faith  is  alfo  vain. 

The  death  of  Jefus  v/as  not  in  private  a- 
mong  his  friends,  but  in  public  among  his 
enemies ;  by  whom  he  was  executed  as  a 
malefador.  When  he  was  taken  down  from 
the  crofs,  his  enemies  were  fully  fatisfied 
that  he  was  dead.  Life  could  not  have  re« 
mained  in  him  after  the  Roman  foldier  had 
thrufl  the  fpear  into  his  fide.  His  body  was 
lodged  in  a  fepulchre  hev/n  out  of  a  rock,  a 
flonewas  rolled  unto  its  door.  By  Pilate's 
order  a  feal  was  put  upon  the  ftone,  and  a 


130 

guard  of  foldiers  was  placed  by  it.     On  the 
third  day,    Behold^  there  was  a  great  earth- 
quake :   for  the  angel  of  the  Lord  defended 
from  heaven^  and  came  and  rolled  back  thcfione 
from  the  door^  and  fat  upon  it.     His  countenance 
was    like   lightening,  and  his  raiment  white  as 
fnow»     And  for  fear   of  him  the  keepers  did 
fhake,  and  became  as  dead  men.     The  angel 
laid  to  the  women  who  came  unto  the  fepul- 
chre,  Jefus  who  was  crucified  is  not  here  ; 
for  he  is  rifen,  as  he f aid*     Come^fee  the  place 
where  the  Lord  lay* 

The  women  who  vifited  the  fepulchre  in 
the  morning  after  Chrifl  arofe,  did  not  ex- 
pert in  their  fetting  out  to  find  him  ahve, 
for  their  defign  was  to  anoint  the  dead  body 
with  the  fpices  they  had  prepared.  None 
of  the  difciples  of  Chrift  expelled  his  refur- 
reclion.  They  never  could  underfland  du- 
ring his  life  how  his  dying,  and  to  be  fure  in 
fuch  ignominy,  was  reconcileable  with  his 
Meffiahfliip.  They  were  flow  to  believe  in 
the  refurredion  of  Chrifl,  after  the  event 
had  taken  place.  The  force  of  evidence  a- 
lone  gained  their  faith.  The  appearances  of 
Chrifi  to  them  were  continued  at  different 
times  and  places,  when  few  and  many  were 
together,  during  the  courfe   of  forty  days. 

*  Matth.  xxviii. 


He  was  feen  of  above  500  brethren  at  once; 
of  whom  the  greater  part  remained  alive 
when  Paul  wrote  his  firft  epiflle  to  the  church 
of  Corinth ;  many  years  after  the  afcenfion. 

The  ftory  of  the  watch  placed  at  Chrift's 
fepulchre,  That  his  difciples  came  andjlole  him 
away  while  they  Jlept^  is  full  of  abiurdities. 
They  were  hired  to  tell  it  by  a  large  fum  of 
money  given  them  by  the  chief  prieflis  and 
elders  of  the  Jews.  Do  men  need  bribing  to 
lell  the  truth  ?  Does  not  the  defign  of  a 
bribe  always  carry  in  it  a  wifh  to  conceal 
fads  ?  Befides,  as  it  is  well  known  thatthofe 
who  flept  on  guard,  were  if  detected,  pun- 
ifhed  by  the  Roman  laws  with  death,  the 
foldiers  would  not  have  dared  to  confefs 
themfeves  afleep  when  on  duty,  had  not  the 
Jewifh  rulers  agreed  to  pacify  Pilate  on  their 
behalf.  Had  there  been 'the  leafl  pretext 
for  the  ftory  the  foldiers  told,  the  chief 
priefts  would  have  been  the  firft  men  in 
Judea  to  bring  the  watch  to  punifliment ; 
as  that  would  have  given  credibility  to  the 
account  which  they  ftrove  to  propagate. 
Every  thing  relative  to  the  condud  of  the 
chief  priefls  in -this  affair,  carries  fraud  in 
the  face  of  it,  and  confirms  the  truth  of 
Chrift's  refurredion.  Moreover,  the  tefli- 
mony  given  by  the  watch  relative  to  a  faft. 


$3^ 

which,  by  their  own  confefTion,  took  place 
while  they  were  afleep,  is  of  fuch  a  nature,  as 
is  wholly  inadmiflible  before  acourtofjuf- 
dee,  or  by  the  di£lates  of  common  fenfe. 
Are  men  to  be  credited  in  affirming  a  fa6l, 
which  they  declare  to  have  happened  at  a 
time  when  they  could  have  no  confcioufnefs 
of  it  ?  Is  there  an  honed  man  of  common 
underftanding  upon  the  globe,  who  would 
venture  to  decide  in  any  thing  of  confe- 
quence  on  fuch  teftimony  ? 

It  has  been  objedled  to  the  truth  of 
Chrifl's  refurrection  that  he  did  not  fliow 
himfelf  after  his  death  to  his  judges,  and  his 
enemies  in  general.  To  obviate  this  diffi- 
culty, it  may  be  obferved,  that  if  Chrifl  af- 
ter he  left  the  fepulchre  had  gone  into  their 
prefence,  they  probably  would,  from  the 
malice  and  blindnefs  they  had  difcovered, 
have  confidcred  the  appearance  as  an  idle 
dream  ;  and  have  remained  as  obftinatc  as 
they  were  after  the  refurredticn  of  Lazarus. 
But  let  us  fuppofe  that  by  fuch  an  appear- 
ance they  had  all  been  gained  over  to  the 
belief  of  the  fad,  and  had  become  Chrift's 
difciples,  would  not  the  enemies  of  the  gof- 
pel  have  faid,  that  fmce  all  the  great  men  in 
the  nation  had  received  it,  the  whole  was 
contrived  plan,  and  therefore  ought  to  b< 
given  up  as   a   cunningly   deviled   fable 


i 


This  objedion  would  have  carried  much 
more  plaufibility  in  it  than  any  that  can  now 
be  urged.  Chriltianity  did  not  rife  up  un- 
der the  patronage  of  the  powerful  and  the 
great.  It  was  left  to  work  its  way  in  the 
world  by  its  internal  evidence,  and  the  gra- 
cious aids  of  its  founder.  Several  perfons 
of  learning  and  note  were  converted  to  it 
in  its  infancy  ;  among  thefe  was  Saul  of 
Tarfus ;  but  they  became  friends  to  the 
gofpel  in  a  way  that  gives  not  the  lead  coun- 
tenance to  the  fuggeftion,  that  it  owed  its 
birth  to  the  wifdom  of  this  world.  Chrifl 
crucified  was  to  the  Jews  a  (tumbling  block, 
and  to  the  Greeks  fooUfhnefs. 

Within  a  fhort  time  after  Chrifl's  ref- 
urredion,  his  difciples  publicly  and  boldly 
proclaimed  it  in  Jerufalem,  where  he  was  put 
to  death  ;  and  wrought  miracles  oh  the 
ground  that  he  was  alive.  They  went  forth 
and  preached  this  doctrine  every  where,  the 
I^ord  working  with  them,  and  confirming 
the  word  with  figns  following. 

To  CONCLUDE,  we  have  decifive  evidence 
from  the  miracles  of  Mofes  and  the  Proph- 
ets, and  from  thofeof  Jelus  Chriil,  and  hit 
Apoftles,  that  all  fcripturc  is  given  by  inipi- 
ration  of  God. 

M 


^;<x;^^;::^<:::<x><>::^<■>-::><■■<>::><x><^<x::'<■^<^<.^<x^<><>:;><     ,. 


DISCOURSE    V. 

The  evidence  from  the  Prophecies  confid- 
ered  ;  feveral  popular  objections  anfwer- 
ed  ;  and  the  difcouries  concluded  with  aa 
improYement. 


2    TIMOTHY   ill.    1 6. 

Allfcrlpture  is  given  by  infpiration  ofGod^  and 
is  profitable  for  do6lrine^  for  reproofs  for  cor^ 
re6lion^for  injirudion  in  righteoujnefs, 

IN  the  two  lafl  difcourfes,  arguments  were 
introduced  to  prove  the  divine  infpira- 
tion of  the  fcriptures,  from  the  nature  of  the 
rehgion  they  contain,  and  the  miracles  re- 
corded in  them.  I  now  proceed  to  a  third 
argument,  derived  from  the  fulfilment  of 
their  prophecies. 

By  prophecy  is  meant,  the  foretelling  df 
events  that  are  not  within  the  reach  of  hu- 
man probability,  and  of  which  no  knowledge 


135 

can  be  obtained  beforehand  but  from  God* 
To  look  into  futurity  and  difcern  fuch  e- 
vents,  with  the  time  and  circumflances  of 
their  coming  into  exiftence,  is  peculiar  to 
the  infinite  mind.  Ifaiah  xlvi.  9,  10.  i^^- 
tneinber  the  former  things  of  old :  for  I  am  God^ 
md  there  is  none  elfe  ;  I  am  God^  and  there  is 
none  like  me  ;  de daring  the  end  from  the  be" 
ginning^  and  from  ancient  times  the  things  that 
are  not  yet  done ^  faying^  My  counfel  fhalljiandy 
and  I  will  do  all  my  pleafure. 

That  the  fcriptures  abound  with  proph- 
ecies, will  be  denied  by  none  who  have  read 
them.  The  prophecies  are  fo  interwoven 
with  the  facred  writings,  as  not  to  be  fepa- 
rated.  If  the  predictions  were  not  delivered 
before  the  events  which  they  hold  up  as  fu- 
ture, had  happened,  we  mud  give  up  the 
Bible,  and  confider  it  as  a  forgery.  But  if 
the  prophets  were  let  into  the  fecrets  of  fu- 
turity, as  we  have  abundant  evidence  from 
the  fulfilment  of  thejr  predictions,  they  were 
immediately  enlightened  from  on  high,  and 
the  fcriptures  are  demonflrated  to  be  the 
word  of  the  Lord.  It  has  been  often  pro- 
ved that  the  prophecies  refpeCling  the  cap- 
tivity of  the  Jews  in  Babylon,  the  coming 
of  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  the  deflrudlion  of  Je- 
rufalem  by  the  Romans,  and  many  others. 


J37 

were  dellverd  prior  to  the  events  which  an* 
fwer  to  them.  The  argument  in  favor  of  the 
divine  original  of  the  Bible  from  prophecy, 
carries  irrefiftible  force,  when  we  refleO:  on 
the  conduct  of  providence  in  fulfilling  pre- 
dictions at  the  prefent  time,  which  all  will 
grant  were  written  and  publilhed  many  ages 
ago.  To  two  prophecies  of  this  kind,  I  no\f 
call  your  attention. 

'I  SHALL  begin  with  the  prophecy  con- 
cerning Iflimael,  Abraham's  fon  by  Hagar, 
recorded  in  Gen.  xvi.  As  that  woman  was 
wandering  in  the  wildernefs,  "  The  angel 
*'  of  the  Lord  faid  unto  her,  I  will  multiply 
"  thy  feed  exceedingly,  that  it  fliall  not  be 
*'  numbered  for  multitude. — ^Behold,  thou 
*'  art  with  child,  and  fnalt  bear  a  fon,  and 
"  flialt  call  his  name  Ifhmael ;  becaufe  the 
"  Lord  hath  heard  thy  afRidion.  And  he 
**^  will  be  a  wild  man  ;  his  hand  will  be  a- 
"  gainft  every  man,  and  every  man's  hand 
*'  againfl  him :  and  he  fliall  dwell  in  the 
*'  prefence  of  all  his  brethren."  This  pre- 
didion  principally  relates  to  IfhmaePs  pof- 
te^ity ;  but  a  fmall  part  of  it,  befide  his 
birth,  could  have  any  accomplilhment  in  his 
perfon.  A  numerous  feed  defcendea  from 
him,  which  remain  to  this  day.  It  is  faid  of 
M  2 


^38 

his  defcendants,  in  Gen.  xxv.   i8.     That 
f^Athey  dwelt  from  Havilah  unto  Shur,  that 
is  before  Egypt,  as  thou  goefl  towards  Af- 
fyria.*'     The  place  here  affigned  to  them  h 
the  fame  with  what  was  afterwards  in  fcrip- 
ture  called  Arabia,  and  continues  to  have 
the  fame  name,  and   to  be  pollefled  by  the 
fame  people,  to  the  prefent  time.     The  A- 
rabians  have  never  been  conquered   either 
by  the  Affyrians,  Perfians,  Greeks,  Romans, 
Tartars,  or  any  other  nation.     They  have 
always   been  a  peft  to  mankind,  and  have 
pradifed  robberies  upon  them.     Their  hand 
has  been  againfl  every  man,  and  of  courfe, 
every  man's    hand  has  been  againfl   them,, 
but  none  have  been  able  to  conquer  them. 
They  have   lived  in  the  midft  of  all  their 
brethren.     In  the    earlier  periods  of  their 
hiftory,  the  defcendants  of  Abraham  by  Ke- 
turah,  and  the  pofterity  of  Ifaac  bordered 
upon  them.   To  whatever  power  thefe  neigh- 
bours, or  others,   rofe,  they  retained  their 
'  dominion  ;  and  were  not  driven   from  any 
part  of  their  territories.     "  They  have  from 
"  firfl  to  laft maintained  their  independency, 
*'  and  notwithflanding  the  moft  powerful 
"  efforts  for  their  deftrudlion,  ftill  dwell  in 
"  the  prefence  of  all  their  brethren,  and  in 
*^  the  prefence  of  all  their  enemies."* 

*  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  in  two  YQlunjes;  9th  £•■•' 
^tiQn,  p.  aj,  a6.  Vol.  i. 


I 


^39 

Who  but  the  omnifcient  God  con  Id  have 
forefcen  the  flate  of  the  defcendants  of  Ifn- 
mael  ?  Is  not  the  fulfilment  of  the  predic- 
tions concerning  them  a  ftriking  proof  in 
fupport  of  the  divine  original  of  the  fcrip- 
tures  ? 

The  prophecies  refpeding  the  (late  of  the 
Jews,  which  have  been  fulfilled  in  the  latter 
ages,  and  are  now  fulfilling, are  too  remark- 
able to  be  pafled  by  in  filcnce,  when  attend- 
ing to  the  prefent  fubjed.  The  difperfion 
and  the  wretchednefs  of  that  people  were 
foretold  by  Mofes.  The  curfes  which  (liould 
fall  upon  them  for  their  difobedience,  are 
particularly  and  largely  denounced  in  Deut. 
xxviii.  I  lliall  feled  a  few  paffages  only  ; 
ver.  37.  And  thou  jlxilt  become  an  a ftonipment^ 
a -proverb^  and  a  by-word^  among  all  nations 
'whither  the  Lord  thy  GodJIoall  lead  thee,  Ver  fes 
64,  6^^  66.  And  the  Lord  Jhall  fcatfer  thee 
^mong  all  people^  from  the  one  end  of  the  earth 
unto  the  other  ;  and  there  thou fhalt ferve  other' 
godsy  which  neither  thou  nor  thy  fathers  have 
known^  even  wood  and fione.  And  among  thefe 
nations  fid  alt  thou  find  no  eafe^  7ieither  floall  the 
fole  of  thy  foot  have  reft ;  but  the  Lord  will  give 
thee  there  a  trembling  hearty  and  failing  of  eyes ^ 
andforrow  of  7nind :  And' thy  life  Jhall  hang 
in  dfiubt  before  thee  ^  and  thoujhalt  fear  daj. 


140 

end  nighty  andjhalt  ha'vc  none  afurance  of  thy 
life,  Thefe  predidlions  were  in  a  degree  ful- 
filled by  the  captivity  of  the  kingdoms  of 
Ilrael  and  Judah,  by  the  Aflyrians  and  Chal- 
deans ;  but  have  received  a  fuller  accom- 
plifnment  in  the  deftruclion  of  Jerufalem  by 
the  Romans,  and  in  the  prefent  dilperfion 
of  the  Jews.  Thefe  laft  events  were  fore- 
told by  Jefus  Chrift,  in  Luke  xxi.  24.  And 
they  fhall  fall  by  the  edge  ofthefvord^  andjhall 
be  led  away  captive  into  all  nations  :  and  fe^ 
rufalem  Jhall  be  trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles^ 
until  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled. 

The  Jews  were  flaughtered  in  immenfe 
numbers,  when  their  city  was  taken  by  Ti- 
tus the  Roman  general.  A  vail  multitude 
has  perilhed  fmce,  by  maffacres  and  perfe- 
cutions.  The  Jews  have  not  been  permit- 
ted to  poflefs  the  land  of  Canaan  or  Palef- 
tine,  for  more  than  1700  years  ;  and  they  are 
fcattered  through  Afia,  and  through  moft 
of  the  countries  of  Europe  and  Africa  ; 
they  are  found  on  the  American  continent, 
and  its  adjacent  ifiands.  Their  land  has 
paffed  from  one  fet  of  conquerors  to  anoth- 
er, and  is  nov/  in  the  hands  of  the  Turks  ; 
and  remains  in  a  low  and  wretched  ftate. 
The  Jews  fmce  their  lafl  difperfion  have, 
for  the  moft  part,  found  jio  reft  \  but  the 


141 

Lord  has  given  them  a  trembling  hearty  and 
failing  of  eyes^  and  forroiv  cf  mind.  They 
have  not  enjoyed  the  rights  of  other  citi- 
zens in  the  places  where  they  have  lived, 
they  have  been  banifhed  from  many  king- 
doms ;  and  in  not  a  few  inflances,  govern- 
ment has  laid  its  hand  on  the  property  of 
that  unhappy  people,  in  a  way  of  tine  and 
confifcation.  They  have  been  detefled  by 
the  nations,  and  have  been  a  by-word  sunong 
them.  However  criminal  the  Jews  may 
have  been,  the  benevolent  heart  is  pained 
by  even  a  fummary  recital  of  their  fufferings, 
and  is  rejoiced  at  the  milder  treatment  they 
have  met  with  of  late.  We  hope  that  the 
period  is  at  hand  when  their  calamities  will 
ceafe,  by  the  univerfally  opening  a  door  for 
their  enjoyment  of  freedom,  as  is  done  by 
the  fpirit  of  the  civil  conftitution  of  the  U- 
nited  States  of  America  ;  and  above  all  by 
their  union  with  the  Gentiles  throughout 
the  world  under  the  MefTiah. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Jews,  tho'  they 
have  met  with  fuch  hardfhips  and  cruelties, 
yet  remain  a  diilin6t  people.  This  is  the 
Lord's  doing  ;  and  verifies  what  was  fpoken 
long  ago  by  the  prophets.  I  fhall  only 
mention  in  this  place  a  pafTage  recorded  in 
Jerem.  xxx.  ii.  addreifed  to  Ifrael,  For  I 


14^ 

mni  with  thee,  faith  the  Lord,  to  fcvDe  thee  i 
though  I  make  a  full  end  of  all  nations  whither 
J  havefcatteredthee,  yet  will  1  not  make  a  full 
end  of  thee  ;  hut  I  will  correal  thee  in  meafure^ 
and  will  not  leave  thee  altogether  unpunijhed. 
The  Jews  have  not,  hke  other  nations,  been 
fwallowed  up  and  loft  in  conquefts,  by  in- 
termingling with  their  conquerors,  or  with 
thofe  among  whom  they  have  lived.  Tho* 
they  have  had  the  ftrongeft  inducements  to 
intermarry,  and  to  blend  in  all  rel'pedts, 
with  the  Gentiles,  they,  as  a  body,  remain 
as  widely  feparated  from  them  by  blood  and 
religion  as  ever.  However,  they  have,  in 
fome  inftances,  externally  complied  with 
the  idolatrous  rites  of  the  Romifn  chuich, 
to  avoid  the  cruelties  of  the  court  of  inquifi- 
tion,  they  have  at  the  fame  time  adhered  to 
the  faith  of  their  anceftors  ;  and  when  they 
have  efcaped  from  the  danger  of  the  rack, 
they  have  renounced  chriftianity  in  every 
form,  and  openly  returned  to  their  religion. 
They  remain  to  this  day  a  ftriking  proof 
that  the  author  of  the  prophecies  refpeding 
them  is  divine  ;  and  confequently  that  the 
fcriptures  are  given  by  infpiration  of  God, 

Would  our  limits  permit,  we  might 
point  to  the  fulfilment  of  many  prophecies, 
which  were  delivered  long  before  the  events  ' 


^43 

they  predict  were  brought  into  exiftencd 
Babylon  now  lies  in  ruins,  "  a  pofleffioa 
for  the  bittern,  and  pools  of  water."  Tyre, 
once  "  a  mart  of  nations,"  is  made  "  Uke 
the  top  of  a  rock ;  a  place  for  the  ipread- 
mg  of  nets  in  the  midfh  of  the  fea."  We 
behold  the  man  of  fm,  whofe  rife  was  pre- 
dicted in  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  and 
New  Teftament,  "  fitting  in  the  temple  of 
God,  /liewing  himfelf  that  he  is  God  j 
whofe  coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan, 
with  all  power,  and  figns,  and  lying  won- 
ders." And,  to  name  no  more,  we  behold 
nowful-filling  the  prophecy  recorded  in  Rev- 
elation xvii.  1 6.  "  And  the  ten  horns 
which  thou  fawell  upon  the  beaft,  thefe  fhall 
hate  the  whore,  and  fhall  make  her  defolate, 
and  naked,  and  fhall  eat  her  fjefh,  and  burn 
her  with  fire."  The  European  kingdom 
which  lead  the  way  in  giving  temporal  do- 
minion  to  the  beaft  revived  under  the  anti- 
chriflian  tyranny,  is  now  feizing  on  the 
wealth  and  deftroying  the  influence  which 
fhe  once  gloried  in  giving  to  the  Roman 
Pontiff.  We  are  furnifhed  with  abundant 
proof,  that  the  pens  of  the  prophets  were 
guided  by  Him  who,  from  eternity,  beholds 
all  the  events  of  time.  The  nearer  we  ap- 
proach to  the  end  of  the  world,  the  evidence 
in  fupport  of  the   infpiration  of  the  Bible 


M4 

from  the  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies,  be- 
comes  more  and  more  clear  and  convincing. 
Whatever  abufes  are  made  of  the  increafmg 
light  by  the  wicked,  "  the  wife  fhall  under- 
ftand/' 

My  defigned  brevity  on  the  copious  fub- 
je6t  of  thefe  difcourfes,  forbids  me  to  add  to 
the  foregoing  arguments.  I  fliall,  after  no-, 
ticing  a  few  popular  objedions,  conclude 
with  a  practical  improvement. 

Some  have  attempted  to  countenance  their" 
diflike  of  the  fcriptures,  by  faying,  that  the 
language  adopted  in  fome  parts  of  thofe  wri-  | 
tings,  particularly  in  certain  paffages  in  the 
Old  Teflament,  puts  modelly  to  the  blufh. 

Perfons  of  much  information  will  not  be 
perplexed  with  this  difficulty.  It  will  at 
once  occur  to  them,  that  when  God  fpeaks 
to  any  part  of  the  human  race,  he  muft  ad- 
drefs  them  in  a  language  which  they  under- 
fland,  or  the  defign  of  revelation  will  be  loft. 
It  mufl  follow  of  courfe,  that  the  language 
of  the  age  and  the  place  when  and  where 
the  revelation  is  made,  mufl  be  adopted. 
The  meaning  of  particular  words  is  con- 
flantly  altering  by  ufage.  The  word  knave^  \ 
for  inftance,  in  our  language,  was  hereto- 1 
fore  underflood  to  mean  a  diligent fcrvatii  /> 


H5 

but  cuftoni  now  appropriates  it  to  one  who 
is  guilty  oi fraud  in  his  dealings  with  man- 
kind. Cuftom  is  as  much  the  ftandard  of 
decency  in  the  clothing  of  our  thoughts,  as 
in  the  clothing  of  our  bodies.  Some  of  the 
words  and  phrafes  in  our  tranflation  of  the 
Bible,  which  may  appear  indehcate  when 
compared  with  modern  ftyie,  did  not  offend 
againfl:  delicacy  two  hundred  years  ago  ; 
and  they  may  not  two  hundred  years  hence, 
or  in  a  much  fhorter  term.  Among  a  civi- 
lized people  it  is  as  eafy  to  difcern  a  rotation 
in  words  and  phrafes,  as  in  any  thing  elfe 
that  is  equally  under  human  control.  It 
would  be  very  (Irange  indeed,  if  the  origi- 
nal language  of  the  pentateuch,  which  was 
committed  to  writing  more  than  three  thou- 
fand  years  ago,  perfedly  fuited  the  various 
tafles  which  have  prevailed  in  flyle,  from 
the  days  ot  Mofes  to  our  time.  It  is  to  be 
remarked  that  the  books  which  he  wrote 
have  paffed  through  very  different  Rates  of 
fociety,  in  the  lapfe  of  fo  many  ages  ;  to  each 
of  which  it  is  impofTible  that  they  fhouldbe 
compleatly  conformed  :  Yet  the  manner  in 
which  thofe  books  were  written  will  abide 
the  teft  of  found  criticifm  at  the  prefent 
era  of  high  literary  improvement. 
N 


146 

Let  us  admit,  for  a  moment,  that  the 
■whole  phrafeology  and  manner  of  writing 
in  the  moft  ancient  parts  of  the  Jewifh  fcrip- 
tures,  perfectly  correfponded  with  modern 
tafte — ^I  fay,  let  us  make  this  fuppofition,  in 
order  to  learn  whether  that  part  of  the  Bi- 
ble which  is  accufed  of  indelicacy,  would  be 
as  defenfible  as  it  now  is.  We  may  difcern 
at  once  the  effedt  of  the  fuppofed  change. 
The  men  who  cavil  now,  would  immediately 
tack  about,  and  exclaim  againfl  the  penta- 
teuch  as  a  forgery,  from  its  ftyle.  Hence, 
we  fee  that  the  antiquity  of  the  ftyle  ufed 
in  the  Mofaic  writings,  as  well  as  in  other 
parts  of  fcripture,  is  a  matter  of  importance 
in  the  controverfy  with,  infidels.  It  was  as 
proper  that  the  facred  penmen  (hould  adopt 
the  language  and  manner  of  writiag  pecu- 
liar to  their  own  times,  as  that  in  alluding  to 
mountrj'ns  in  their  difcourfes  to  the  Jews, 
they  fhould  name  Horeb^  Carmel^  or  Hemion^ 
rather  than  the  Allegany^  or  the  Andes,  Af- 
ter what  has  been  faid  on  the  change  of  the 
meaning  of  words  and  the  ftate  of  fociety, 
it  is  evident  that  no  one  has  any  juft  caufe 
to  impeach  the  language  of  the  fcriptures 
of  offences  againft  modefty. 

The  difputes  about  what  the  religion  of 
the  Bible  is,  among  thofe  who  profefs  to 


147 

adopt  it,  have  been  urged  by  fome  as  an 
objection  againfl  its  divine  original.  To 
this  it  may  be  anfwered, 

I  ft.  That  the  enemies  of  divine  revela- 
tion are  not  agreed  among  themfelves. 
Some  infidels  profefs  to  believe  that  God 
is  a  good  being  ;  others  deny  that  any  fuch 
conclufion  can  be  formed.  Some  of  them 
confider  the  foul  of  man  as  immortal  ; 
whilft  others  fuppofe  that  it  dies  with  the 
body.  If  the  difputes  among  chriftians 
overthrow  chriftianity,  the  difputes  among 
deifts  overthrow  deifm.  The  objedion 
weighs  nothing  on  either  fide,  and  is  wholly 
impertinent. 

2dly.  A  CONSIDERABLE  number  of  the 
controverfies  among  chriftians  do  not  re- 
fped  the  eftentials  of  their  religion ;  but  are 
to  be  accounted  for  from  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  educated,  the  religious  treat- 
ifes  they  read,  the  perfons  with  whom  they 
aftbciate  in  the  early  periods  of  ferious 
thoughtfulnefs,  and  fimilar  caufes.  Differ- 
ences of  this  kind  do  not  prove  that  the  Bi- 
ble inculcates  oppofite  principles  ;  for  it  is 
admitted  that  they  do  not  materially  affedl 
what  is  neceflary  to  fit  men  for  everlafting 
happinefs. 


14^ 

jdly.  It  is  granted  that  opinions  have . 
been  maintained  by  fome  who  profefs  to  be- 
lieve in  the  infpiration  of  the  fcriptures, 
vhich  ftrike  at  their  fundamental  truths. 
But  the  rife  of  damnable  herefies  is  fo  far 
from  overthrowing  the  Bible,  that  it  con- 
firms it ;  for  that  book  contains  many  pre- 
didlions  that  fuch  errors  will  appear  j  ef- 
pecially  in  the  lafl  days. 

Violent  prejudices  have  been  conceived 
againft  the  religion  of  Jefus  Chrifl,  from  the 
bad  things  which  have  been  done  under  the 
cloak  of  it.  To  remove  this  Humbling 
block,  let  it  be  obferved, 

I  ft.  That  if  the  bad  things  which  have 
been  done  by  thofe  who  call  themfelves  chrif- 
tians,  go  to  the  fubverfion  of  thegofpel,  deifm 
muft  be  overthrown  according  to  the  fame 
plan  of  reafoning.  I  prefume  that  no  one 
who  is  the  moil  warmly  engaged  in  fupport 
of  infidelity,  will  affirm  that  all  deifts  have 
iliown  high  reverence  to  the  Deity  in  their 
behaviour,  or  that  they  have  all  been  men 
of  fobriety,  juftice,  mercy  and  truth.  We 
have  to  acknowledge  with  grief,  that  many 
abominable  things  have  been  done  by  per- 
fons  who  have  called  themfelves  the  difci- 
ples  of  Jefus  Chrift  ;  but  if  we  muft  give  up 
our  religion  on  account  of  their  conduft. 


M 


149 

the  delfts  muft  give  up  theirs  on  account 
of  the  impious  and  debauched  morals  of 
fome  of  their  order. 

2dly.  There  is  nothing  in  the  nature  of 
revealed  religion  which  tends  to  the  corrup- 
tion of  morals  ;  but  every  thing  in  it  tends 
to  make  bad  men  better.  The  moral  law 
requires  holinefs,  and  forbids  every  fm. 
The  gofpel  breathes  the  fame  fpirit.  It  prom- 
ifes  pardon  and  happinefs  only  to  the  pen- 
itent, and  encourages  with  the  hope  of  a 
crown  of  righteoufnefs,  patient  continuance 
in  well  doing.  The  punilhments  threaten- 
ed to  the  wicked  are  fuited  to  alarm  them, 
and  to  deter  from  the  pradice  of  iniquity. 
The  religion  of  Jefus  Chriit  has  adually 
had  the  happieft  influence  on  thofe  who 
have  cordially  embraced  it  ;  as  has  appear- 
ed from  their  lives  and  deaths. 

3dly.  Wicked  men  would  not  cloak 
their  wickednefs  under  the  garb  of  the 
chriflian  profefTion,  unlefs  there  were  fome- 
thing  in  the  gofpel  which  recommends  it  to 
the  confciences'of  mankind.  There  could 
be  no  counterfeit  coin,  if  there  were  no  real 
coin.  Men  do  not  counterfeit  iron  or  lead  ; 
but  filver  and  gold,  or  fomething  that  rep- 
refents  the  value  of  thefe  precious  metals, 
Thofe  perlons  who  commit  iniquity  under 
N  a 


I50 

the  maik  of  friendfhip  to  the  gofpel,  are  fo 
far  from  proving  it  to  be  of  no  worth,  that 
even  they  themfelves  by  implication,  teftify 
in  its  favor,  though  it  is  againfl  their  lufls. 

4thly.  We  ought  not  to  conclude  againfl 
the  worth  of  the  chriflian  religion  from  its 
abufes,  on  account  of  the  abfurdities  which 
fuch  an  inference  will  draw  after  it.  We 
muftjto  be  confident  with  fuch  a  conclufion, 
pronounce  all  the  bleiTmgs  of  common 
providence  to  be  evils  in  themfelves  ;  for 
they  all  have  been,  and  dill  are,  fhamefully 
abufed.  If  we  pronounce  every  thing  bad, 
and  to  be  avoided,  which  has  been  employed 
for  a  bad  purpofe,  we  mufl  confider  as  evil, 
food  and  raiment,  the  ground  on  which  we 
tread,  the  dreams  that  water  it,  the  produce 
of  the  garden  and  the  field,  the  light  which 
drikes  our  eyes,  and  the  air  we  breathe^ 
We  need  not  wonder  that  perfons  who  dif- 
pute  againd  the  goodnefs  of  God,  from  the 
pains  they  bring  upon  themfelves  by  abufmg 
it,  wifh  to  take  refuge  in  annihilation,  and 
indulge  the  forlorn  hope  that  by  fuicidethey 
Ihall  haden  their  return  to  the  womb  of 
nothing. 

5thly.  It  will  be  acknowledged  by  every 
candid  obferver,  that  the  religion  of  the  gof- 
pel  promotes  focial  happinefs  in  every  circle 


in  which  It  reigns.  It  prevents  the  wretch- 
edneis  which  flows  from  riot  and  debauche* 
ry,  fupprefles  the  malignant  paflions,  and 
diffuies  the  calm  and  pure  pleafures  of  tem- 
perance, diligence,  contentment,  and  friend- 
fhip.  Whatever  perfecutions  have  been  en- 
dured for  righteoufnefs'  fake,  it  is  too  plaia 
to  be  denied,  that  the  practice  of  chriftianity 
gives  a  happinefs  to  individuals  and  to  col* 
ledive  bodies,  to  which  thofe  are  (Irangers 
v/ho  treat  it  with  contempt.  It  has  more- 
over been  abundantly  demonflrated  by  able 
writers,  that  where  it  is  externally  regarded 
by  the  inhabitants  of  a  country  in  general, 
their  morals  are  not  fo  loofe  as  are  thofe  of 
nations  devoted  to  pagan  idolatry. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  obfervations  which 
have  been  made,  will  be  thought  fufficient 
to  wipe  away  the  reproach  which  has  been 
caft  upon  the  chriflian  religion,  from 
the  bad  things  that  have  been  done  by  its 
hypocritical  profeflbrs. 

Those  who  rejed  the  divine  authority  of 
the  Bible,  have  endeavored  to  juflify  their 
unbelief,  by  pleading,  that  they  cannot  be 
under  obligations  to  conform  their  faith  and 
pradice  to  a  book,  which  contains  myfteries 
above  the  comprehenfxoa  of  the  human 
mind. 


Ir  the  objedions  of  this  kind  are  juft,  it 
will  follow  that  we  are  not  bound  to  believe 
any  thing  which  we  cannot  comprehend. 
But  is  there  a  man  on  the  earth,  "  in  his 
right  mind,"  who  will  avow  this  confe- 
quence  ?  We  are  unable  to  comprehend  the 
works  of  nature  with  which  we  are  fur- 
rounded.  We  know  not  how  water  is  con- 
gealed into  the  hardnefs  of  (tone  ;  nor  can 
we  comprehend  the  growth  of  even  a  fmgle 
blade  of  grafs.  Man  is  a  myjflery  to  him- 
felf.  He  cannot  tell  why  certain  kinds  of 
food  nourifh  his  body  rather  than  others  ; 
nor  how  his  limbs  are  put  in  motion  by  the 
volitions  of  his  foul.  If  we  are  not  bound 
to  give  our  affent  to  any  thing  which  we 
cannot  underlland  in  all  its  parts,  we  mull 
deny  fads  which  are  daily  taking  place  be- 
fore our  eyes,  yea  more,  we  muft  deny 
our  own  exiftence.  The  objcdlion  we 
are  now  confidering  will  go  to  atheifm  ; 
for  no  creature  can  fathom  abfolute  eterni- 
ty. If  there  be  a  God  he  never  had  a  be- 
ginning. When  the  human  mind  contem- 
plates this  fubjed  it  is  fwal lowed  up  and 
loft.  "  Canft  thou  by  fearching  find  out 
God  ?  Canft  thou  find  out  the  Almighty 
unto  perfection  ?" 

In  the  fupernatural  revelation  God  hath 


»53 

made  of  his  will,  he  fpeaks  like  himfelf— a 
Being  infinitely  great.  Were  all  the  myf- 
teries  which  are  delivered  in  the  facred  vol- 
ume, perfedlly  on  a  level  with  our  limited 
minds  lately  called  into  exiftence,  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  moral  world  v/ould  be  pla- 
ced in  a  lower  grade  than  the  kingdom  of 
nature,  and  we  ihould  not  have  the  fame 
evidence  as  we  now  have  that  the  finger  of 
God  is  imprinted  on  the  fcriptures.  But 
tho'  fome  of  thedo6lrines  of  the  Bible  are 
fo  high  that  we  can  know  but  little  concern- 
ing them  in  this  dark  probationary  (late, 
they  can  be  fufEciently  apprehended  even 
by  babes  in  underftanding  to  obtain  eternal 
life.  Befides,  the  truths  which  are  mofl 
myfterious  are  fo  interwoven  with  thofe 
which  are  plain,  that  if  we  rejed  the  for- 
mer, we  mufl  rejedt  the  latter.  The  various 
parts  of  this  remarkable  book  form  one  har- 
monious fyflem  of  faith  and  pradice. 

The  laft  objedion  that  I  fhall  notice  is 
taken  from  the  fmall  extent  within  which 
the  writings  of  the  Old  and  New  Teflament 
have  been  known.  Since  the  fcriptures  ex- 
hibit an  exclufive  claim  of  guiding  the  human 
race  in  the  way  of  truth  and  happinefs,  it  is 
contended,  that  their  partial  fpread  is  in- 
confillent  with  the  charaQcr  of  Him  who  is 


«54 

the  Father  of  all  mankind,  and  is  no  ref- 
peder  ofperfons;  and  that  therefore  they 
canHot  be  given  by  infpiration  of  God.  To 
obviate  this  objedion,letthe  following  things 
be  confidered, 

ift.  God  in  his  common  providence  dif- 
tributes  his  gifts,  both  of  body  and  mind,  ve- 
ry varioufly  ;  as  daily  experience  teaches.  It 
will  not  be  pretended  that  men  have  juft 
caufc  to  complain  of  him,  becaufe  he  be- 
ftows  upon  fome  a  more  vigorous  animal 
frame,  or  a  higher  degree  of  intellect,  than 
upon  others.  No  reafon  can  be  alhgned, 
why  the  means  of  mora!  and  religious  im- 
provement may  not  be  as  greatly  diverfified, 
by  the  fovereign  of  the  univerfe,  as  other 
blefhngs  are.  Befides,  the  obligation  deri- 
ved from  privileges,  is  proportioned  to  their 
nature  and  degree.  Mankind  are  not  pun- 
ifhed  for  difregarding  truths  of  which  they 
could  have  no  knowledge  ;  but  for  relifting 
the  light  that  has  Ihone  before  them. 

2dly.  Since  the  whole  human  race  have 
forfeited  every  favor  from  the  hand  of 
God,  by  fm,  he  may  juflly  exclude  them  all 
from  happinefs,  and  confequently  may  deny 
them  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  thofe  writings  which  contain  the  words 
of  eternal  Hfe.     Ail  the  favors  enjoyed  by 


155 

apoflate  creatures,  flow  from  divine  fove- 
Teign  mercy  ;  which  excludes  every  idea  of 
claim  on  their  part.  Thofe,  therefore,  who 
are  left  in  heathenifh  darknefs,  experience 
no  injuftice.  Their  demerit  is  not  lefTened, 
nor  is  their  ilate  rendered  any  more  deplor- 
able, by  reafon  of  God^s  condu£t  in  giving 
the  fcriptures  to  others.  If  any  refufe  to 
receive  them  becaufe  they  are  not  known 
throughout  the  world,  they  difcover  great 
ingratitude,  and  perverfenefs.  God  has 
conferred  upon  us,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  a  larger  portion 
of  freedom  than  is  poflefled  by  mofl  nations. 
Shall  we  murmur,  and  throw  away  our  liber- 
ties, becaufe  providence  has  not  caufed  all 
our  fellow-men  to  enjoy  the  fame  bleflings  ? 
Who  hath  licenfed  a  worm  of  the  dud  to 
didate  to  the  fovereign  Ruler  of  heaven  and 
earth  !  Or  to  fay  unto  him,  "  What  doeft 
thou  i" 

3dly.  It  is  owing  to  the  criminal  indif- 
ference of  mankind  to  the  fcriptures,  that 
the  knowledge  of  them  is  confined  within 
fuch  narrow  limits.  Had,  for  inftance,  the 
feveral  families  of  the  fons  of  Noah,  in  their 
difperfions  from  the  plain  in  the  land  of 
Shinar,  been  friends  to  the  truths  which 
had  at  that  time  been  Jevealed,  they  would 


— 

have  faithfully  preferved  them,  and  made 
high  exertions  to  tranfmit  them  to  their  pof- 
terity.  Had  the  word  of  the  Lord  been 
fweet  unto  their  tafte,  they  would  have  been 
much  more  defirous  of  handing  it  down  to 
their  fucceflbrs,  than  they  were  their  knowl- 
edge of  the  arts.  A  like  pious  zeal  pafling 
from  one  generation  to  another,  would 
have  prevented  the  ignorance  of  divine  reve- 
lation which  foon  prevailed.  By  the  time 
of  Abraham  there  was  a  general  departure 
to  idolatry.  That  renowned  patriarch  fo- 
journed  in  many  places,  after  he  left  Ur  of 
the  Chaldees  in  obedience  to  the  command 
of  God  ;  for  the  fetting  up  his  worfhip  in  a 
pure  form.  But  the  people  among  whom 
he  refided,  in  Canaan,  in  Egypt,  and  in 
other  countries,  did  not  improve  the  oppor- 
tunity of  learning  from  him  the  truths  and 
laws  which  he  had  immediately  communi- 
cated to  him  from  God,  or  had  been  tranf- 
mitted  to  him  through  the  preceding  infpir- 
ed  men.  The  Egyptians  paid  no  lading  at- 
tention to  the  mighty  works  wrought  among 
them  by  the  arm  of  Jehovah,  in  the  days  of 
Mofes  ;  nor  did  they  regard  the  means  of 
inftru6lion  in  the  knowledge  of  the  revealed 
will  of  God,  to  which  they  might  have  had 
accefs.  When  the  Ifraelites  were  fettled  in 
Canaan,  they  were  placed  in  the  eentral  Ipot 


^57 

x)f  the  then  known  world.  On  different  fides 
of  them  lay  Egypt,  Arabia,  Syria,  Chaldea, 
and  Aflyria  ;  out  of  which  nations  arofe  the 
firft  empires  of  note  among  mankind.  Un- 
der thofe  monarchies  the  arts  and  fciences 
were  firfl  cuhivated,  and  from  them  have 
been  fpread  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
weftern  regions.  The  land  given  to  the 
children  oflfrael  is  wafhed  on  one  fide  by 
the  Mediterranean  fea,  and  bordered  on  the 
once  famous  cities  of  Tyre  and  Sidon ; 
which  extended  their  commerce  to  diftant 
countries.  To  the  nations  of  the  eaft  the 
chofen  people  were  well  known,  whilft  they 
dwelt  in  Canaan.  By  their  captivity  under 
the  Aflyrians  and  Chaldeans,  the  facred 
books  were  carried  into  many  parts  of  Afia  ; 
where  they  were  kept  by  the  difperfed  Jews 
until  the  day  when  the  MefTiah  appeared. 
In  the  ages  which  followed  the  return  of 
fome  of  the  captives  to  Jerufalem  under 
Cyrus,  and  the  rebuilding  of  their  city  and 
temple,  the  Jews  became  well  known  to  the 
Greeks  and  the  Romans.  The  Apoftles  in 
their  time  carried  the  gofpel  far  beyond  the 
bounds  of  Judea,  and  preached  the  word  of 
eternal  life  among  the  Gentiles. 

If  there  had  been  a  general  love  of  divine 
truth  among  the  human  race,  the  fcripture* 
O 


— 

would  have  been  diileminated  far  and  wide 
on  this  inhabited  globe.  From  the  inatten- 
tion to  the  infpired  writings  which  has  ap- 
peared in  the  condudi:  of  mankind,  it  is  man- 
ifeftthat  they  have  not  chofen  to  retain  God 
in  their  knowledge.  Inftead  of  charging 
him  with  an  unjuft  partiality,  let  them  con- 
fefs  that  fm  is  the  caufe  of  the  extenfive 
reign  of  heathen  darknefs.  It  is  wholly  ow- 
ing to  the  mere  fovereign  mercy  of  God, 
that  the  knowledge  of  divine  revelation  has 
not  perifhed  from  the  earth. 

Having  taken  a  brief  view  of  fome  of 
the  principal  arguments  in  fupport  of  the 
truth  and  infpiration  of  the  Bible,  and  at- 
tempted to  obviate  fever al  objedions,  I  pro- 
ceed to  improve  the  fubjed. 

I.  We  may  refledl  on  the  unreafonablc 
and  dangerous  conduct  of  thofe  who  are  en- 
deavoring to  undermine,  and  deftroy  the 
influence  of  revealed  reUgion  ;  by  reprefen- 
ting  it  as  the  work  of  vifionary  or  interefled 
men.  Many  of  the  deifts  have  never  given 
themfelves  the  trouble  of  examining  into  the 
evidences  of  the  truth  and  infpiration  of  the 
fcriptures  ;  but  having  picked  up  here  and 
'  there  fomething  which  they  diflike  in  them, 
cither  by  defultory  reading,  or  from  pro- 
mifcuous  company,  they  proceed  to  afTert 


159 

>yith  great  confidence,  that  thofe  writings 
are  the  work  of  a  mercenary  priefthood,  or 
defigning  politicians.  Such  treatment  of  a 
book  which  claims  a  divine  origin,  not  only 
announces  the  badnefs  of  their  hearts  who 
thus  haftily  reje(5l  it,  but  does  no  honor  to 
their  underftandings.  Among  the  few  in- 
fidels who  have  gone  into  elaborate  difquifi- 
tions  concerning  the  authority  of  the  fcrip- 
tures,  methods  have  been  adopted,  by  men 
of  genius  and  fcience,  to  overthrow  thofe 
writings,  which  carry  in  them  the  groflefl 
abfurdities.  If  the  fame  kind  of  reafoning 
were  employed  on  any  other  fubjeci,  they 
themfelves  would  look  upon  it  with  con* 
tempt.  For  the  fake  of  evading  the  evi- 
dence from  miracles,  deifls  have  labored  to 
eftablilh  fuch  rules,  for  determining  the  ex- 
iflence  of  fads  of  which  we  have  not  been 
perfonal  witneffes,  as  would  deftroy  our 
faith  in  all  hiftory.  They  have  fallen  into 
errors  of  the  mofl  palpable  kind,  in  their 
attempts  to  prove  that  the  Bible  is  at  vari- 
ance with  itfelf.  As,  for  inflance,  when  the 
different  writers  of  any  part  of  its  hiftory, 
do  not  fay  precifely  the  fame  thing,  or  one 
of  them  mentions  fadls  omitted  by  anether, 
infidels  rejed  the  whole  as  the  contradidory 
accounts  of  lying  importers.  At. the  fame 
time  they^ill  give  full  credit  to  many  au- 


i6o 

thors  of  civil  hiftory,  who,  in  narrating  the 
fame  general  events,  mention  different  cir- 
cumftances  from  each  other,  and  will  fpeak 
of  fuch  hiftorians  with  applaufe.  Deifts 
will  grant  that  God  may  deflroy  countries 
by  the  peftilence,  famine,  or  earthquakes  ; 
but  if  he  employ  men  as  the  inftruments  of 
his  wrath,  as  he  did  in  cutting  off  the  inhab- 
itants of  Canaan,  they  cry  out,  cruelty  I  hor^ 
n  J  cruelty  !  They  overlook  the  proof  of  the 
infpiration  of  the  fcriptures,  which  is  fur- 
nifhed  by  miracles  of  the  mod  ftriking  kind. 
They  fhut  their  eyes  againfl  the  light  that 
fhines  with  meridian  brightnefs,  in  the  ful- 
filment of  the  prophecies.  They  withhold 
no  exertions,  in  their  power,  to  heap  re- 
proach upon  that  pure  and  benevolent  reli- 
gion, which  correfponds  with  the  divine 
character,  opens  a  door  of  hope  to  the  guilty, 
and  conduds  the  humble  and  the  penitent 
to  a  world  of  everlaflingjoy.  The  open 
enemies  of  the  gofpel,  drive  to  bring  in- 
to univerfal  contempt  the  only  religion 
that  can  reconcile  mankind  to  God,  and 
unite  them  in  permanent  love  to  one  another. 
Infidels  themfelves  are  very  much  indebted, 
for  their  fpeculative  knowledge  of  the  Deity 
and  moral  virtue,  to  the  Bible.  By  rejec- 
ting it  they  difcover  theii'  ingratitude,  and 
fhort  fightednefs. 


i6i 


What  advantages  do  deifts  exped  to  de- 
rive from  trampling  under  foot  the  holy 
fcriptures  ?  They  have  nothing  to  put  in  the 
place  of  the  dodrines  which  they  explode, 
that  can  yield  them  folid  enjoyment  in  their 
gayefl:  feafons.  What  confolation  can  theif 
principles  afford,  when  carried  into  pradice, 
in  days  of  trouble,  or  in  the  hour  of  ferious 
reflection  ?  Their  philofophy  cannot  allevi- 
ate their  pains  ;  by  afluring  them  of  a  future 
flate,  or  by  pointing  out  the  road  which  leads 
to  fubftantial  interminable  happinefs.  But 
do  they  wifli  to  rid  themfelves  of  the  belief 
of  a  future  ft  ate  of  rewards  and  puniftiments? 
and  hope  to  die  like  the  brutes  ?  Wonder- 
ful fagacity  1  What !  do  the  honor  and  hap- 
pinefs of  man  fland  on  a  level  with  the  hon- 
or and  happinefs  of  the  beafts  of  the  field ! 

What  benefit  v/ill  fociety  derive  from 
the  fpread  of  deiftical  principles  ?  Have  they 
ever  when  fully  imbibed,  reformed  a  fmgle 
vicious  perfon  ?  Experience  demonftrates 
that  in  proportion  as  they  prevail  among  a 
people,  they  weaken  reverence  towards  the 
name  of  God,  and  are  accompanied  with 
loofe  morals.  Such  are  the  unhappy  effeds 
which  infidelity  produces  :  nor  can  they  be 
denied  on  account  of  the  regular  live»  of  a 

O    2 


x6z 

few  of  its  friends,  who  are  immerfed  in  flu- 
dy,  or  whofe  high  official  rank  impels  to 
pay  a  decent  refped  to  the  general  opinion^ 
Civil  laws  will  be  found  feeble  reflraints  on 
communities,  when  the  reflraints  of  reveal- 
ed religion  are  deftroyed. 

Those  who  make  a  dired:  attack  on  the 
facred  volume  are  highly  criminal.  Noth- 
ing can  juflify  them  in  ading  againft  the 
light  that  is  held  up  before  them,  in  the  word 
and  works  of  God.  None  are  required  to 
believe  the  fcriptures  without  fufficient  evi- 
dence to  fatisfy  the  rational  mind  ;  but  fince 
they  are  abundantly  fupported  by  the  fcheme 
of  religion  they  contain,  as  well  as  by  ex- 
ternal teflimonies,  none  can  deny  their  di- 
vine original  without  incurring  infinite  guilt. 
The  difficulties  that  have  been  flarted  rela- 
tive to  their  hiflory,  their  faith  and  morals, 
may  be  removed  to  the  fatisfadion  of  the 
candid.  It  is  impious  in  creatures  to  fug- 
gefl  that  a  better  manifeftation  of  truth 
might  have  been  made  than  is  exhibited  in 
them.  There  is  a  depth  in  God's  wifdom 
and  knowledge  which  we  cannot  fathom- 
He  only  knows  how  to  difplay  his  perfec- 
tions before  finite  intelligencies  in  the  befl 
manner  to  glorify  his  holy  name,  and  what 
are  the  moll  fuitable  means  to  bring  finners 


1^3 

to  repentance.  A  cavilling  temper  Is  never 
fatisfied.  If  any  will  not  hear  Mofes  and  the 
Prophets,  Chrift,  and  the  Apoftles,  neither 
would  they  be  perfuaded  tho*  one  rofe  fron^ 
the  dead. 

What  confufion  would  fill  the  mind  of 
a  deift,  ihould  one  of  his  converts  addrefs 
him  in  the  moment  of  remorfe,  "  You,  Sir, 
*'  firll  taught  me  to  laugh  at  religion — then 
*'  to  doubt  its  truth — and  then  to  trample 
*'  it  under  foot.  I  followed  you  next  into 
**  vice — ^I  threw  off  reftraint — I  have  not 
''  feared  God,  nor  have  I  regarded  man. 
*'  I  tremble  to  think  of  my  end  :  For  tho* 
'*  I  ftill  wifh  to  difbelieve,  --my  confcience 
*'  whifpers — what  if  the gofpel  I  have  denied 
*'  Jhould  prove  true  at  Iqfl  /"  How,  O  ye 
fons  of  infidelity  !  who  boafl  of  making  dif- 
ciples  to  your  creed,  and  to  every  fafhiona- 
ble  vice — how  can  ye  endure  to  meet  the 
fouls  you  have  deluded  and  undone,  at  the 
bar  of  God  !  They  will  rife  as  fwift  witnef- 
fes  againfl  you  before  him  who  will  judge 
the  v/orld  in  righteoufnefs.  Be  entreated 
to  read  the  fcriptures  with  a  candid,  ferious 
temper,  and  impartially  examine  the  argu- 
ments which  eftablifh  their  truth  and  iwlpi- 
ration.     God  grant  that  you  may  no  longer 


1^4 

remain  enemies  of  the  Gofpel ;  but  that  It 
may  be  rendered  efFedual  to  your  falvation. 

2.  In  a  review  of  the  fubje^l  of  thefe  dif- 
courfeSy  we  are  taught  the  duty  of  the 
friends  of  revealed  rehgion,  to  labor  for  its 
defence,  and  to  make  it  the  guide  of  their 
lives. 

We  declare  with  our  lips  our  belief  in 
the  truth  and  infpiration  of  the  fcriptures  of 
the  Old  and  New  Teftament,  and  that  the 
enjoyment  of  them  is  a  privilege  of  inefli- 
mable  worth.  We  profefs  a  high  venera- 
tion for  thefe  writings  ;  becaufe  they  con- 
tain a  rich  and  inexhauftible  treafure  of  di- 
vine knowledge,  and  becaufe  they  point  out 
the  only  way  to  efcape  everlafling  mifery, 
and  to  obtain  eternal  life.  We  cannot  tef- 
tify  our  gratitude  for  having  the  oracles  of 
God  committed  unto  us,  if  we  do  not  fearch 
into  their  meaning  v/ith  diligence,  and  liilen 
to  them  with  a  humble  and  devout  frame  of 
mind.  The  man  of  real  piety,  delights  in 
the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  it  doth  he  med- 
itate day  and  night.  He  crieth  after  knowl- 
edge, and  lifteth  up  his  voice  for  underltan- 
ding  ;  he  feeketh  her  as  filver,  and  fearch- 
ethfor  her  as  for  hidden  treafures.  It  is 
furprifm^  to  find  in  fome  perfons  of  mature 
age  and  good  abilities,  among  the  profelled 


'65 

friends  of  the  Bible,  but  a  fmall  acquain- 
tance with  its  hiflory  or  dodrines.  Inilead 
of  attending  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  their 
minds  are  fwallowed  up  in  worldly  purfuits, 
or  are  diverted  from  the  iludy  of  it,  by  books 
of  wit  and  humour. 

MANYof  the  difficulties  which  occur  in 
the  reading  of  the  fcriptures,  will  be  removed 
by  comparing  one  paiTage  with  another,  rel- 
ative to  the  fame  fubjedl  in  different  parts 
of  thofe  writings.  The  dodlrines  which 
they  contain  that  far  furpafs  our  comprehen- 
fion,  cannot  be  eradicated  without  giving  up 
the  facrcd  volume  into  the  hands  of  its  a- 
vowed  enemies,  and  placing  it  on  the  fame 
ground  with  the  works  of  a  heathen  Plato, 
or  Seneca.  Thofe  who  humbly  wait  on 
God  will  be  guided  into  all  neceifary  truths  : 
*'  The  meek  will  he  guide  in  judgment  ; 
and  the  meek  will  he  teach  his  way.'*  Be- 
lievers will  be  kept  by  the  power  of  God 
through  faith  unto  falvation. 

There  is  reafon  to  expe6l  from  prefent 
appearances,  and  from  the  prophecies,  that 
the  church  will  meet  with  violent  alfaults 
from  infidelity,  between  the  period  in  which 
we  live,  and  the  time  when  *'  the  earth ihall 
be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  tkc 
waters  cover  the  fea/*     Now,  when  the  eu^ 


i66 

cmy  IS  coming  in  like  a  flood,  we  are  loudly 
called  upon  to  lift  up  a  flandard  againft  him. 
The  performance  of  this  duty,  requires  our 
attention  to  the  arguments  which  demon- 
ftrate  the  fcriptures  to  be  true,  and  from 
God ;  and  our  earned  endeavors  to  main- 
tain the  faith  which  was  once  dehvered  unto 
the  faints.  Chriftian  teachers  are  under  a 
peculiar  and  folemn  charge,  to  continue  in 
the  things  which  they  have  learned  of  Jefus 
Chrift ;  and  to  labor  to  imprefs  the  belief 
on  the  minds  of  others,  that  all firipture  is 
given  by  infpiration  of  God ^  and  is  frojitahle  for 
doBrine^for  reproof  for  corredion^for  injiruc- 
iion  in  righteoufnefs.  Above  all,  let  every 
friend  of  revealed  religion  imbibe  its  fpirit, 
and  obey  its  laws.  If  we  love  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  we  fhall  place  a  high  value  on  the 
fabbath,  and  on  all  divine  inftitutions  :  And 
jfhall  bear  teftimony  againft  the  various  cour- 
fes  which  difhonor  God,  and  tend  to  deftroy 
mankind.  Let  parents  teach  their  children 
the  do6;rines  and  duties  of  chriftianity,  and 
enforce  their  inftrudions  by  a  holy  example. 

Doth  the  gofpel  point  out  immortality  to 
man,  let  this  folemnize  our  minds,  and  in- 
cite us  to  give  diligence  to  make  our  calling 
and  election  fure.  Nothing  can  counter- 
balance the  lofs  of  the  foul.     What  are  all 


i67 

the  pleafures,  the  riches,  and  the  honors  of 
the  world,  when  compared  with/*  an  inher- 
itance incorruptible,  and  undeliled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away  !"  Let  us  remember  that 
the  grace  of  God  which  bringeth  falvation, 
*'  teacheth  us,  that  denying  ungodlinefs  and 
worldly  lufts,  we  fhould  live  foberly,  right- 
eoufly,  and  godly,  in  this  prefent  world  ; 
looking  for  that  bleflfed  hope,  and  the  glo- 
rious appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
Saviour  Jefus  Chrift/' 

3.  I  SHALL  conclude  thefe  difcourfes  with 
an  addrefs  to  the  rifmg  generation. 

Dear  Youth, 

You  are  coming  into  a£live  life  in  a  day 
very  different,  in  feveral  refpects,  from  any 
former  period.  The  late  revolution  in  our 
country  has  extended  its  influence  far  and 
wide ;  and  appears  defigned  by  providence 
to  draw  after  it  a  train  of  confequences, 
whofe  importance  rifes  to  a  height  that 
baffles  the  calculations  of  the  human  mind. 
We  are  bound  to  give  thanks  to  God  for 
the  rare  privilege  we  enjoy  of  difcufTmg  ev- 
ery fubjed  as  publicly  as  we  pleafe,  and  of 
exprefTmg  our  fentiments  without  reftraint. 
It  is  a  melancholy  thought  that  when  fo  wide 
a  door  is  opened  for  the  fpreading  of  truth. 


i68 


"error  and  wickednefs  prevail.  Popery  and 
fuperftition  have  received  a  deep  wound ; 
at  the  fame  time  infidelity  lifts  up  its  head, 
and  open  vices  make  fwift  and  alarming  pro- 
grefs.  The  heart  of  man  is  the  fame  now 
as  it  ever  has  been  fmce  the  apoflacy  ;  but 
it  fhows  itfelf  in  a  different  form  from  what 
it  has  ufually  done  among  chriftian  nations, 
and  calls  in  principles  to  juftify  its  criminal 
indulgencies  with  more  confidence  than  had 
before  been  feen.  Many  in  our  day  give 
out  that  the  age  of  reafon  is  come,  and  that 
mankind  may  now  determine  for  themfelves 
what  is  virtue  and  what  is  vice,  without  any 
regard  to  the  fcriptures.  They  feem  to 
think  themfelves  at  full  liberty,  in  the  fight 
of  God,  to  reject  any  revelation  he  may 
make,  without  incurrring  his  difpleafure. 
If  our  choice  be  the  only  rule  of  conduft 
that  is  binding  upon  us,  we  are  placed  in  a 
lawlefs  univerfe,  and  are  not  accountable  to 
God. 

Pause  a  moment — and  refle<5l  on  the  evil 
and  danger  of  being  led  aflray  by  opinions 
which  flatter  the  pride  of  the  heart,  and  are 
an  inlet  to  every  vice.  If  you  regard  your 
own  peace  and  fafety^  you  will  not  liflen  to 
men  who  fet  their  mouth  againft  the  heavens, 
and  advocate  the  caufe  of  licentioufnefs, 


j6^ 

Look  on  the  effects  of  infidelity  upon  thofe 
Vrho  are  fcoffitig  at  the  Bible,  and  are  driv- 
ing to  influence  others  to  treat  it  with  •  con- 
tempt. Do  they  appear  to  have  the  fear  of 
God  before  their  eyes  ?  Can  you  believe 
that  their  real  aim  is  to  promote  your  true 
happinefs  ?  A  fenfe  of  propriety,  mull  ren- 
tier a  fet  of  low  charaders  difgufting  to  you, 
who  belch  out  their  hatred  ofreligion  in  the 
noify  clubs,  where  ferious  thoughtfulnefs  is 
banifhed,  and  where  ardent  fpirits  animate 
the  bluftering  hero  of  the  night.  Pity  the 
poor  creature  who  curfes  the  book  which 
forewarns  him  of  his  awful  fate,  and  com- 
mands him  to  lead  a  life  of  temperance  and 
fobriety.  From  perfons  of  a  different  de- 
fcription  you  are  in  much  greater  danger  of 
being  profelyted  to  infidelity.  You  may  in 
your  intercourfe  with  mankind,  meet  with 
deifts  whofe  talents  are  refpedable,  and 
whofe  addrefs  is  engaging.  Thefe  will  con- 
fult  your  feelings,  and  will  not  fhock  you 
with  a  fudden  propofal  of  renouncing  the 
chriftian  faith  ;  but  will  fugged  doubts  re- 
lative to  its  hiftorical  truth,  or  the  fitnefs  of 
its  dodrines,  or  the  juftice  of  its  precepts. 

It  is  not  to  be  expeded  that   thofe  who 
have  beea  trained  up,  from  their  childhood, 
P 


170 

in  the  belief  of  the  fcriptures,  will  renounce 
them  at  once,  and  inftantly  tajie  a  leap  into 
the  abyfs  of  deifm.  Perfons  who  make  thii 
dreadful  plunge,  ufually  advance  towards  it 
from  fmall  beginnings.  You  will  progrcfs 
towards  the  gulph  which  has  fwallowed  up 
the  avowed  enemies  of  the  Bible,  if  you  are 
in  any  degree  entangled  with  what  goes  un- 
der the  name  of  Moderm  Liberality  ;  which 
affirms,  that  it  is  a  matter  of  perfe(^  indiffer- 
ence what  fentiments  any  adopt  for  their  re- 
ligious creed.  It  is  not  pretended  by  chrif- 
tians,  that  a  mere  affeni  La  revealed  doctrines 
forms  a  good  character  ;  but  they  cannot 
be  fo  abfurd  as  to  allow  that  all  opinions  are 
alike  friendly  to  virtue.  Is  it  as  probable 
that  the  man  who  believes  in  annihilation  at 
death,  will  refrain  from  perjury,  as  he  who 
believes  that  he  fliall  exift  in  another  world, 
and  that  there  God  will  call  him  to  an  ac- 
count for  his  conduct  in  this  ?  Have  we  the 
fame  reafon  to  look  for  purity  in  him  who 
worfhips  a  flock  or  a  flone,  as  in  him  who 
worfhips  Jehovah  ?  Infidels  make  high  pro- 
feflions  of  liberality,  as  above  defined  :  But 
if  they  fpeak  their  real  fentiments,  why  do 
they  make  exertions  to  deflroy  the  faith  of 
others  in  the  Bible  ?  What  caufe  can  they 
aiTign  for  their  sseal  in  profelyting,  if  they  e& 


171 

teem  It  to  be  peirfeflly  indifFerent  what  creed 
any  one  adopts  ? 

Were  the  Bible  to  perifh  from  among 
us,  there  would  be  no  means  left,  fufficient 
to  prevent  paying  divine  honors  to  the  de- 
parted fpirits  of  patriots  and  heroes,  or  even 
to  the  inanimate  creation.  The  impious, 
obfcene,  and  cruel  rites  of  paganifm  would 
be  eftabliflied,  fhould  chriftianity  ceafe  to 
enlighten  us  ;  and  our  religious  ftate  would 
be  the  fame  with  that  of  by  far  the  largeft 
proportion  of  mankind  now  on  the  earth. 
Human  fcience  would  not  be  found  a  fuffi- 
cient guard  to  defend  ub  againfl  fuch  evils  ; 
for  the  learned  Greeks  and  Romans  were, 
at  leaft,  as  much  given  to  idolatry,  as  the 
favages  that  roam  in  thedefert.  The  hiflory 
of  the  whole  heathen  world  from  the  days 
of  Abraham  until  now,  exhibits  the  fame 
melancholy  pidure  with  Greece  and  Rome. 
A  knowledge  uffhe  arts  and  Iciences  is  very 
ufeful ;  but  cannot  (land  in  the  place  of  di- 
vine revelation. 

If  any  fhould  plead  that  the  miferies 
which  have  flown  from  corrupt  rituals  would 
be  avoided  by  annihilating  every  form  of  re- 
ligion, they  fuppofe  a  fad:  which  can  never 
generally  happen,  fo  long  as  hope  and  fear 
remain ia the huraau  breaft.    JBut  if  thee 


»7* 

vent  they  contemplate  could  be  realized^ 
each  individual  would  feel  himfelf  liccnfed 
*  to  live  according  to  nature,  and  afceneof 
wretchednefs  would  enfue,  efpecially '  ii^ 
large  communities,  far  furpaiTmg  any  thing 
the  world  has  hitherto  feen.  Neither  prop^ 
crty,  nor  chaftity,  nor  life,  would  be  pro- 
te^led  ;  and  the  earth  would  groan  under 
the  horrors  of  the  infernal  regions. 

Beware,  dear  youth,  of  drinking  in  the 
poifon  of  infidelity.  Embrace  the  religion 
which  came  from  above,  and  make  it  the 
guide  of  your  lives.  In  this  choice  you  will 
find  light,  peace,  and  joy,  and  will  be  fecured 
from  falling  into  fatal  fnares.  Jofeph,  in 
the  bloom  of  youth  and  beauty,  was  pro* 
tected  in  a  dangerous  moment,  by  reverenc* 
ing  the  laws  of  Jehovah.  He  replied  to  the 
importunate  feducer.  How  can  Ida  this  great 
wickednefsy  and  Jin  agairji  God  ?  Impartially 
review  the  evidences  uf  the  li  uih  and  infpii^. 
tationof  the  Bible.  If  you  read  this  holy 
book  with  diligence  and  meeknefs,  you  will 
be  charmed  with  the  pure  and  benevolent 
fpirit  which  it  breathes  ;  and  will  be  fully 
perfuaded  that  no  being  but  God  can  be  its 
author.  The  miracles  recorded  in  the  Ola 
Teftament  andintbeNew,  and  tb^  fulfil- 


merit  of  the  prophecies,  give  a  divine  fane* 
tion  to  the  fcriptures. 

Trifle  not  away  the  morning  of  life  in 
vain  amulements,  or  in  hearkening  to  fa- 
bles. You  are  not  creatures  of  a  day  ;  but 
are  born  for  eternity.  The  prefent  momen- 
tary (late  will  be  followed  with  confequen- 
ces  of  infinite  importance.  Secure  without 
delay  the  glorious  immortality  fet  before 
you  in  the  gofpel.  From  early  life  may  you 
know  the  holy  fcriptures,  which  are  able  to 
make  you  wife  unto  falvation  through  faith 
which  is  in  Chrifl  Jefus :  To  Him  be  glory 
for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


'^!^^^'^s^:^mm 


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WS^-i^M^m 


